Stan Collymore makes Nottingham Forest prediction that some may disagree with, not to be ‘disrespectful’

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It’s fair to say that the footballing world didn’t expect to see Nuno Espirito Santo performing this well at Nottingham Forest.

After Forest’s win over Manchester United, Jamie Redknapp praised Espirito Santo for both the job he has done this season on the pitch and for changing the perception of the club overall.

This praise has also spread to members of the Nottingham Forest squad, as Jermaine Defoe praised Chris Wood and Darren Fletcher hailed Morgan Gibbs-White after the brilliant result against Old Trafford.

Attention now turns to Saturday’s match against Aston Villa, though, which could go a long way to indicate Forest’s true chances of European football at the end of the season. With Villa a place below Forest in 6th, both sides will be desperate for a win.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
4	Man CityManchester City	15	8	3	4	27	21	6	27
5	Nottm ForestNottingham Forest	15	7	4	4	19	18	1	25
6	Aston VillaAston Villa	15	7	4	4	23	23	0	25

Paul Merson predicted a draw between Forest and Villa, whilst Forest legend Stan Collymore has cooled the optimism around the City Ground for the season as a whole.

Collymore expects Nottingham Forest to drop out of top half

In his column for Caught Offside, Collymore was full of praise for the job that Espirito Santo has done so far this season.

He said: “Nuno Espírito Santo deserves the plaudits for masterminding the victory, coming not long after taking all three points at Anfield. […] With players like Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Chris Woods in situ, he has players who can score goals and help bring his attacking philosophy into play.

“What’s more, they defend well too, doggedly getting bodies behind the ball like Nuno did when at Wolves.”

Despite this praise, though, Collymore was reluctant to predict that Forest could continue their momentum and stake a real challenge for European football.

Collymore said: “What would success look like for them at the end of this season? I think you’re looking at a very congested top half of the table, which they’ll do very well to get into, and that’s not being disrespectful.”

Forest’s Christmas fixtures could prove Collymore right or wrong

It may seem realistic from Collymore to expect a drop off in form and league position for Forest, but their Christmas fixture list could give the pundit, and Forest fans, a better understanding of where their team truly fit in the Premier League.

After the Villa fixture, Forest face a trip to free-scoring Brentford before hosting Tottenham, two teams that will be eying up the very position that Forest occupy.

Followed up by two away trips to relegation-threatened Everton and Wolves, Espirito Santo and his Forest coaching staff should know a lot about whether their side can keep up the pace this season and prove Collymore wrong.