Nottingham Forest continue to earn the praise of football pundits for their impressive start to the Premier League season, with the club currently occupying 5th position.
Phil Jones praised Forest’s structure against Manchester United in the win at Old Trafford last Saturday, whilst Jamie Redknapp hailed Nuno Espirito Santo for his crucial role as Nottingham Forest manager in the season’s uptake in form.
Along with the praise, there is still a feeling of shock coming from the media about just how strong Forest look. Gary Lineker predicted Forest to be relegated and has taken plenty of ridicule for it and there remains a surprise about the quality of football that the Nottingham Forest squad is producing.
Whether they’re strong in possession or punishing sides on the counter-attack, the Forest coaching staff have clearly produced a tactical gameplan that fellow Premier League teams are struggling to handle.
Next to try is Aston Villa, with pundit Chris Sutton showing his optimism about Forest in his prediction for the clash.
Chris Sutton to ‘back’ Forest to earn result against Aston Villa
In his weekly predictions piece, Sutton told the BBC that he is struggling not to back Forest this season, whether home or away.
He said: “I tend to back Nottingham Forest when they are at home but they seem just as good on their travels these days, maybe because they like to play on the counter-attack.
“I don’t think they will lose this but I don’t want to back against [Aston] Villa either, so a draw seems like the most likely outcome, doesn’t it?”
Sutton ended up predicting a 1-1 draw for the game, which would keep Forest in 5th place in the Premier League.
His point about Forest’s away prowess is particularly interesting, though, considering how much they struggled away from home under Steve Cooper.
Forest struggled away from home in the Premier League
Before his sacking at Leicester City, it was revealed that Cooper had only managed to win at four different Premier League stadiums in his time as a coach in the league.
With ten of his 14 victories coming at the City Ground and one coming with Leicester away against Southampton, Cooper only managed two away wins in the Premier League whilst in charge of Forest.
Even more damningly for Cooper, Forest have already doubled that total this season alone, winning four away games including victories away at Liverpool and Manchester United.
Clearly, then, it has taken a lot for Espirito Santo to erase this poor form under Cooper to the point where Sutton is willing to back Forest on their travels.
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