Nottingham Forest have had more iconic teams than the one Nuno Espirito Santo is leading right now, but one Forest legend is sure that the team of the past can’t match Espirito Santo’s side in one aspect.
After pundits such as Gary Linekar predicted Forest to be relegated, the fact that Espirito Santo has taken his squad to third in the Premier League table has added an extra level of memorability to the current crop.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 | 23 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 56 | 21 | 35 | 56 | |
| 2 | 24 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 49 | 22 | 27 | 50 | |
| 3 | 24 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 40 | 27 | 13 | 47 | |
| 4 | 24 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 47 | 31 | 16 | 43 |
Another reason this Forest squad will be remembered beyond their years is the remarkable season of Chris Wood. Wood became Forest’s leading Premier League goalscorer thanks to his 17 league goals already this campaign, with the record-breaking goal itself coming away at Manchester United.
Alongside the Old Trafford victory, Forest beat Liverpool at Anfield to provide the Forest fans with some memorable away days to go alongside their brilliant campaign in general, but one legend of the club has pointed to an aspect closer to home that has made him slightly envious this season.

Brian Laws wishes he got to experience the City Ground atmosphere this season
Whilst it’s Ola Aina starring at right-back this season, Brian Laws was a staple in the position in the late 1980s under Brian Clough.
The Forest legend experienced good times at the City Ground, winning the League Cup twice in his time at the club but he has recently revealed to the Forest Focus podcast that the atmosphere at the stadium was never quite as good as it is now under Espirito Santo.
Laws said: “I’m going to games now and thinking I’m so looking forward to this game, I’m not worried about relegation and just your mindset is completely different. Oh my goodness me are we enjoying it at the moment and rightly so!
“I’m jealous, jealous, jealous of the atmosphere at the City Ground, it wasn’t like that in my day that’s for sure! If you can’t be inspired by that as a player then you need a good shaking.”
Espirito Santo has praised the City Ground atmosphere this season too when Forest beat Tottenham on Boxing Day but it shouldn’t really come as a surprise to the Forest manager, given how many good days he has given the City Ground supporters this season.
Nottingham Forest are exceptional at home in the Premier League
Such is Forest’s home record this season that when Bournemouth beat Forest 5-0, it should’ve been clear that Espirito Santo’s side would bounce back in style at the City Ground the following game week.
Forest sit third in the Premier League when it comes to home form, just behind Arsenal and Liverpool much like the regular table.
Only Fulham and Newcastle have come to the City Ground and won this season, with the likes of Liverpool and Aston Villa not managing to secure victories at the stadium.
The City Ground will begin redevelopment in 2026 to bring extra capacity to the ground in terms of regular seating and hospitality, giving fans such as Laws the chance to enjoy the atmosphere that Espirito Santo’s football has created.
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