Sean Dyche was a relieved man at the end of a pulsating affair between Nottingham Forest and Brentford.
The Reds ran out 2-0 winners, with Taiwo Awoniyi setting the seal on the win after Igor Jesus had opened the scoring in the 12th minute.
Who was your Man of the Match vs Brentford
Jamie Carragher hailed Awoniyi after the game in which he bagged his first goal for over a year, and the joy was etched all over his face after he managed to score.
Dyche has managed Awoniyi carefully, and after the game, he couldn’t smile wide enough when asked about the uncompromising striker, choosing to reveal what he’s been saying to him behind the scenes.
What Sean Dyche has been telling Taiwo Awoniyi
It’s been a tough few months for Awoniyi, with the Nigerian needing life-saving surgery after colliding with a post against Leicester in May.
After the game, Awoniyi sported his huge scar positioned smack in between his abs and clearly, this goal meant an awful lot to him after such a rough time of things.
Dyche praised his uncompromising striker after his late goal sent the away end into raptures and wrapped up a huge three points for Forest.
He told Nottinghamshire Live: “Absolutely buzzing for him. He has worked hard and trained well in the last week.
“I had a chat with him – nothing heavy – and reminded him to be free. He looked free when he came on. He worked very hard, and it was a very good finish.
“I’ve not gone too deep with him (about his injury). That’s by the by. I certainly don’t keep reflecting back, I wasn’t here, and I know what happened was very serious.
“It’s just talking to him generally. Just get on with it, come and enjoy yourself. It’s not that easy – professional enjoyment, I call it. I don’t mean go out there like running around in the playground, you have professional responsibility.”
Awoniyi could still have a job to do at Forest
The striker hasn’t had that scoring feeling for over a year, so naturally, he was delighted to get the ovation from his teammates after his goal at Brentford.
Awoniyi, given service and at his powerful best, can still do a job for Forest, and that is something to ponder for Dyche going forward as we enter the final week of the window.
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Lorenzo Lucca has signed from Napoli, and it was perhaps quite fitting that in the game before he gets involved, both strikers found the net to remind their manager what they’re capable of.
Now, a big decision needs to be made on Awoniyi in the next week and given how happy he looked after yesterday, it’s hard to imagine that he will be pushing to leave.
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