A team is surpassing all expectations and defying logic, steadily climbing the Premier League ladder. Yet, for some reason, the applause feels muted. Maybe that extraordinary feat is lost among the misfortunes of the other bigger clubs, or it is just discarded on the presumption that they can’t sustain that position.
That team is none other than Nottingham Forest. Currently sitting 4th in the Premier League after 16 games, Forest stands ahead of sides with greater reputations and stronger squads. That just shows their extraordinary journey so far.
The club’s glory days may be forgotten by current generations of football fans, but Nottingham Forest was a leading force in European football. Forest have won 11 trophies in their long career, one league title, two FA Cups, four League Cups, one FA Charity Shield (now Community Shield), two European Cups (now Champions League) and one UEFA Super Cup.
However, relegations in 1993, 1997 and then 1999 sadly set in motion a long absence from the Premier League which without a doubt casts a shadow over Nottingham Forest’s glorious past. But the club’s insistence on relegation kept their dreams alive.
The End of a 23-year Absence From Top-flight Football
That fight paid off in the 2021–22 season, as Forest fought their way into the playoffs, after missing out on automatic promotion in the EFL Championship. Working with Steve Cooper, who transformed their campaign, Forest rediscovered their edge. Their playoff form was not stellar, but their penalty shootout win over Sheffield United in the semi-final brought them closer to bringing an end to their 23-year Premier League exile.
Flush with the masses’ sentiment and support, Forest’s efforts were fueled in the final. After a 1–0 defeat to Huddersfield Town, they finally secured their long-anticipated return to the Premier League, the triumphant conclusion to decades of hard work and perseverance.
The return to the Premier League, however, was hardly the triumphant return they’d imagined. Nottingham Forest came 16th in the table, claiming just 9 wins from 38 games. Though they didn’t fare well, they met their ultimate goal, “staying in the premiership”.
The following season didn’t fare much better. Struggles on the pitch led to the departure of Steve Cooper, with Nuno Espírito Santo stepping in to steady the ship. Despite the managerial change, Forest’s campaign remained turbulent. They narrowly avoided relegation once again, finishing 17th and staying just above the bottom three with once again only 9 wins in the entirety of the 2023/24 PL campaign.
Nottingham Forest and Nuno Espirito: A Match Made in Heaven
The Portuguese manager, Nuno Espírito Santo, was appointed mid-season following the dismissal of Steve Cooper. Taking charge with Forest sitting 17th in the table, his immediate priority was survival. Despite limited time to implement his own tactics, having missed pre-season, Nuno managed to do just enough to steer the team clear of relegation — a small but significant victory under the circumstances.
This season, however, has been a revelation for the Tricky Trees. It feels as though Nuno’s tactical philosophy was tailor-made for Nottingham Forest, and the current squad is perfectly suited to his style of play. Throughout his managerial career, Nuno has been known for a pragmatic, defensively sound approach, even during his time at Tottenham, where he worked with an array of attacking talent.
At Forest, this approach has clicked seamlessly. Nottingham Forest has embraced a defensive solidity in the Premier League that allows them to absorb opposition pressure, force turnovers, and unleash devastating counterattacks through their pacey wingers and the in-form striker Chris Wood. This was well evident in the triumphant display against Liverpool where they pulled a historic 1–0 victory
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But Forest’s attacking game doesn’t stop there. They have also become a formidable aerial threat, with 7 headed goals in the Premier League this season, joint highest in the league. Whether from set pieces or wide crosses, their ability to capitalize on aerial opportunities has added another dimension to their attack.
A rock-solid defence complements this newfound efficiency in front of goal. Goalkeeper Mats Selz has been outstanding, keeping 5 clean sheets so far, just one shy of the league leader — and making 44 saves. As a unit, Nottingham Forest has conceded just 19 goals, placing them joint third in the league for the fewest goals allowed. This balance between resolute defending and clinical attacking has transformed Forest into one of the season’s biggest surprises, far exceeding expectations.
The Question Beckons, Can They Sustain This Till The Season’s End?
It’s no surprise that Nottingham Forest supporters are beginning to dream of a return to elite European competition, with the team holding their place in the top seven for several weeks now. However, many sceptics remain convinced it’s only a matter of time before Forest’s form begins to falter.
Yet, it’s worth noting the remarkable progress they’ve made this season. Forest is just one win away from matching their total of nine victories in each of the 2022/23 and 2023/24 Premier League campaigns, an impressive feat considering they’ve played only 16 games so far, less than half of the season.
This consistency and newfound efficiency make it difficult to dismiss their potential to continue defying expectations. After all, the Premier League has always been a stage for the unexpected. While breaking into the top four may seem like a stretch, securing a European spot is far from impossible.