Nottingham Forest

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Former Premier League striker Alan Shearer says Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood is "in the form of his life" after netting his sixth and seventh league goals of the season against Leicester City.

Speaking on Match of the Day, Shearer said: "He is unbelievable. He is in the form of his life. He is in the place where you're not hoping you are going to score goals, instead you actually know you're going to go out and score them.

"He is just full of confidence. He scored two very different goals against Leicester. For the first one, it is his movement to go into the box and get around the defenders, then his first touch and the swivel, then how he wraps his foot around the ball the way that he did.

"He had no other thought in his mind. He knew exactly where the goal was and there wasn't even one thought about ing it to anyone else. He just wanted to get the shot away - and why shouldn't he with the form he is in?

"For his second goal, he is just too strong for Wout Faes. His awareness of where he is, where the goalkeeper is and what he has to do is so impressive. It was a clever finish to just guide it in with his head, over the goalkeeper.

"It should be a great feeling for him."

Catch up on Match of the Day here

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's five Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Leicester City and Nottingham Forest.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Aston Villa 1-1 Bournemouth

• Everton 1-1 Fulham

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We asked for your thoughts after Friday's Premier League game between Leicester City and Nottingham Forest.

Here are some of your comments:

Ian: First half, we played like we were attacking at home. To their credit, Leicester exploited the open play and looked dangerous, without really worrying our goalkeeper. Second half, we started so well and it knocked the stuffing out of Leicester. They lost their way, while we looked totally in control. I hope this run lasts!

Ashley: Once they matched Leicester in the midfield, there was only team equipped to win that game. A tougher run of games isn't too far away, so that was a massive three points!

Lewis: A dominant display and we should have had more goals, after hitting the woodwork a couple of times and Yates skying his shot from four yards out. We look a proper outfit this season and we are still improving. Hopefully we can solidify as a Premier League team now, in readiness for next season. That reminds me, I must check my port!

Scott: It was ironic that Yates opened the scoring, because no manager did more for his game than Steve Cooper. Nuno is getting a chance to show everyone what a good manager he is. Fifth doesn't mean anything at this stage, but it is nice to see. The next three fixtures will give us some more clarity about where we really are - they are all established teams.

Ben: I have to keep pinching myself when I'm looking at where we are now compared with three years ago. I was so impressed with our second-half performance, and long may Chris Wood's scoring continue. The fact we keep accumulating points, without both MGW and Danilo, shows our depth and how good our recruitment has been. I can't believe Milenkovic was only £12m - what a steal!

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Leicester’s performance, external

What did you make of Nottingham Forest’s display?, external

Come back to this page on Saturday to find a selection of your replies

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Defensively, this is Nottingham Forest's best start to a season since 1980 when they were champions of Europe.

Just six goals conceded in the Premier League - only Liverpool have let in fewer - has been the foundation of a promising opening eight games before Friday's match at Leicester. Nikola Milenkovic's influence, after his £12m move from Fiorentina, has been crucial while Matz Sels is firmly established as number one.

Forest had three goalkeepers last term, Matt Turner, Odysseas Vlachodimos and Sels after his January arrival. Only the Belgium international is still at the club after Turner's loan move to Crystal Palace and Vlachodimos' transfer to Newcastle and he remains cautious of talking up Forest this season.

"We can compare our statistics to 1980 but - I know it's a cliche - we need to look at it week by week and try to get to 40 points as quickly as possible," Sels said. "Only then, can we maybe set our objectives higher.

"It's difficult when you don't take points at the beginning of the season - you start to play with pressure in every game.

"That's why it was so important for our confidence that we were playing well and picking up points from our first games at the start of the season. Now we are trying to continue this way."

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Earlier, we asked you to identify the former Nottingham Forest player from their Premier League statistics playing for the club.

The correct answer was Ian Woan.

Former Nottingham Forest forward and now lead coach for the under-18s Lewis Grabban has been talking about the importance of the club's academy on Shut Up And Show More Football:

"The club are always trying to improve and that is the main thing. The path is still there to come through but time moves on and the club are still trying to progress in that element too.

"We definitely aren't thinking that it’s done, that we’ve got it made because we are still trying to improve and that is just the direction of the whole club.

"The academy needs to mirror what the rest of the club is doing."

On if it is getting harder for players to break into the first team: "It is tough but that is the nature of the Premier League.

"The players have to be better so therefore the academy needs to be better. The boys need to apply themselves more than before because of the competition for places."

On changes at the club since he finished playing: "There has been massive improvements.

"There have been squad improvements, structure improvements [and] academy improvements. Naturally, every time we stay in the Premier League, season on season, [we] want to try and improve your infrastructure to maintain that status.

"Everything needs to be geared towards being that Premier League club. You can't coast through season on season without making those improvements because other clubs are moving at such a rapid pace that you have to stay with it."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week nine, he takes on rapper Nemzzz, who s Manchester United.

Sutton's prediction: 0-1

Leicester City came back from the dead to beat Southampton last time out, so they will be full of confidence.

But I have a feeling Nottingham Forest will edge this. They don't score a lot of goals, but they are very impressive at the back - they have conceded six goals in their first eight league games, and only leaders Liverpool have a better defensive record.

So I am going to go for another 1-0 Forest win, the same result as against Palace on Monday, which was the scoreline I predicted.

Forest may have an injury issue with Callum Hudson-Odoi and if he does miss this game it will be a blow, but the old 'Wood-chopper' - Chris Wood - is unstoppable for them at the moment, with three goals in his past four games.

Get him in your Fantasy team - that’s my advice.

Nemzzz's prediction: 0-2

Leicester are at home but Forest are doing much better at the moment.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Guess the former Nottingham Forest player from their Premier League statistics at the club:

• Years at club: 1990-2000

• National team: England

• Position: Midfielder

• Appearances: 172

• Goals: 17

Answer will be revealed at 17:00 BST

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After a season away, Leicester City and Nottingham Forest resume their East Midlands rivalry when they face off in the Premier League at King Power Stadium on Friday.

While they go head to head on the pitch, we have asked our fan writers for each club to go head to head off it.

Each fan got to ask three questions to each other before the big game...

Kate Blakemore
Fan writer

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Here is what our Foxes fan Kate Blakemore had to say in response to questions from our Forest fan Saveena Johal.

What do you make of Steve Cooper's start at Leicester, when also thinking about how his spell went at Forest?

Cooper's start has felt a little stuttered.

He has an overly cautious approach to games. While understandable with a newly promoted side, it can also appear like he is afraid to remove the shackles.

This seems to follow some of the attritional football he used at Forest, hoping for a counter-attack. But the team he inherited are used to possession-based tactics.

He is still finding his feet and, after two crucial wins on the bounce, we are now heading into Friday looking to get nine points from nine.

He is yet to figure out his starting XI, but improvements are being seen and hopefully this winning run can be extended and confidence can grow.

Which Leicester player would you say Forest should be most worried about?

Facundo Buonanotte. The 19-year-old loanee from Brighton has already become a fan favourite.

The Argentine has shown the skill and flair now expected from a nation of great footballers and is our t top scorer with Vardy.

He has ability and skill probably last seen in a Leicester shirt with Riyad Mahrez and his goalscoring ability from anywhere on the pitch has left defenders in his wake.

He is the main threat and has improved each game - both creatively and physically. His link-up play with Abdul Fatawu on the right has been successful and this partnership looks increasingly threatening.

What areas of Leicester's team are you concerned Forest might be able to exploit?

We have conceded so many goals down our right-hand side. James Justin has had a tough start and is often overloaded each game. He is arguably a natural left-back, but has been chosen to play on the right in place of Ricardo Pereira, with Victor Kristiansen being preferred on the left.

Cooper is also consistently playing Wilfred Ndidi as a high eight, which hampers our attacking options. Ndidi certainly has a place in the 13 or 14 players used each game, but his ability on the ball is poor, the ing can be left wanting and he is not reactive enough in attacking opportunities.

Many will say his stats are encouraging (most assists in the team) but this more highlights Leicester's low tally of attacking plays rather than Ndidi's prowess. He is a ball-winning, destructive defensive midfielder by trade and this is where he should stay. As the expression goes - if it looks like a duck...

Find more from Kate Blakemore at Leicester Till I Die, external

Saveena Johal
Fan writer

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Here is what our Forest fan Saveena Johal had to say in response to questions from our Foxes fan Kate Blakemore.

Who is 'one to watch' in Nottingham Forest's team?

Elliot Anderson has been unreal for us from the moment we signed him, to the dismay of majority of the Newcastle fanbase.

He has recently garnered a lot of attention, having had the opportunity to start in place of Morgan Gibbs-White. During the recent Crystal Palace match, he nonchalantly whipped through their defence twice within the space of 20 seconds. It was a beautiful sight, and we are expecting more of the same on Friday.

He has also been brilliant for England Under-21s, and it is only a matter of time until he makes it into the senior squad.

What is the Forest goalkeeper's biggest weakness?

At a stretch, this would likely be catching crosses.

Saying that, Matz Sels used to struggle with saving long shots until the Chelsea game when this seemed to instantaneously improve. He has plenty of strengths, so we are extremely confident in his abilities as a number one keeper.

He has had many standout performances recently, and so momentum is high.

What area or position of the pitch has led to the most goals conceded?

With the second-best defensive record so far this season, we have not had many problems with conceding.

Of the six goals we have let in, four of these have been within the penalty area. Two goals just outside of the penalty area came during the Wolves and Brighton matches, with the former being a brilliant strike that Selz could not do an awful lot with.

This is in stark contrast to last season, particularly when we consider the improvements in set-piece defending.

Find more from Saveena at Punjabi Forest, external

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Nuno Espirito Santo has said Nottingham Forest will not become "over the moon" about their fine start to the season, but praised Chris Wood for his goalscoring form.

Wood has five goals in eight matches in 2024-25 and Nuno was asked about the striker in his news conference for the game at Leicester City on Friday.

He said: "There's no secret. It's always about preparing him and the team well. We try to give the players routines and things that can improve their performance. Then, it's Chris. The credit goes to him."

The Portuguese was also humble about the Reds' impressive defence, with the side conceding just six goals so far - a record bettered only by Premier League leaders Liverpool.

"The basics was one of our priorities in of improvement," Nuno added.

"Since we started pre-season, we wanted to become more solid and compact, not allowing too many chances. Matz [Sels] is doing fantastically well.

"It's nothing special, honestly! It's what I think a football team has to become. It has to be solid, compact, and always covering and helping each other, throwing your body in front of the ball. This is defending. This is the basics of football.

"If we ignore this aspect of the game then things become much harder. If you only rely on how, where and how many we are going to score, I see it the other way round.

"When there is too many compliments, they are not good. We are doing well, period. We have to stay and improve. Don't think that it's over the moon."

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Leicester boss Steve Cooper refused to speak about his Nottingham Forest past before his City Ground return.

The 44-year-old faces Forest for the first time since being sacked last December at King Power Stadium on Friday.

Cooper, who spent just over two years at the City Ground, guided Forest back to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years when they won the Championship play-offs in 2022.

The Foxes are looking for three straight wins after victories over Bournemouth and Southampton - and Cooper was eager to steer clear of his past.

He said: "We did all that in the summer. It's about the work with the club here and the players here. It doesn’t matter who we play now - that's completely where my focus is.

"That's enough to consume me and my mind. People that know me will know I stay on task with the job I do and don't let anything interfere with that. That is the same this week."

Forest are eighth after beating Crystal Palace 1-0 on Monday, but a Leicester win would leave them a point behind and lift them into the top 10.

Cooper added: "This is just about the game. This is just about the players we are working with and the staff, getting ready for an exciting game - Friday night under the lights, live on TV.

"This is why the team fought so hard last year to get back in the Premier League, and the same for the opposition as well. That's where my focus is. There is no time to think about anything else.

"I don't want to think about anything else because the moment you are not 100% committed or focused on the job in hand you get punished."

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport Researcher

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Friday's Premier League game against Leicester (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On team news: "We are still assessing how the players are recovering."

• On Morgan Gibbs-White's recovery from injury: "It's a day-by-day process. He's better today - let's hope he is better tomorrow and we can keep assessing."

• Nuno said he "doesn't want to comment" on Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis' stadium ban: "We didn't have a chance to speak about it and it's an issue that isn't my concern. Hopefully it doesn't distract us and we can stay focused."

• On his own touchline ban: "We are making sure that things go normally like it did [against Crystal Palace]. We are in constant communication and we are trying to prepare for Leicester."

• He said his side's position in the league table is "not important", adding: "It's the performances that matter. What we want is to go to Leicester and compete in the same way that we did here at home and against Chelsea. Our bar is high and we want to keep going."

• On Steve Cooper facing Forest for the first time since leaving the club: "I think it's a normal day. Many managers manage a team and then face them. Steve did an amazing job here and will always be ed. We are trying to follow on from his amazing work."

• On Friday's opponents: "[It will be] a tough match. It's not easy to achieve back-to-back wins in the Premier League and they have done it. They are in a good moment. We have to try to fight and be better than them. It's always the same philosophy."

Follow all of Wednesday's news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Nottingham Forest are still appealing the five-game stadium ban handed to owner Evangelos Marinakis by the Football Association.

The FA released the written reasons from an independent regulatory commission on Tuesday.

It said Marinakis, who was charged with misconduct, spat on the floor as match officials walked past following the 1-0 home defeat by Fulham last month.

In his defence, Marinakis claimed he had a hacking cough because he smokes two or three cigars a day and the incident was unintentional.

The commission rejected this defence, pointing to the fact none of the officials' statements mentioned coughing and CCTV footage of the tunnel backed up that assertion.

The written reasons behind the decision said there was "no excuse" for such "an egregious display of disrespectful behaviour" that could "fuel disrespect towards match officials".

Marinakis' punishment includes all stadiums, not just the City Ground.

It followed boss Nuno Espirito Santo being given a three-game touchline ban for his reaction to Morgan Gibbs-White's red card in September's 2-2 draw at Brighton. Gibbs-White was also given a one-match suspension for his own reaction.

Pat Riddell
Fan writer

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There was a moment early on in Monday's match against Crystal Palace when Elliot Anderson danced past several defenders in a packed box, the ball practically glued to his feet, before sending a shot towards Dean Henderson's goal.

Seconds later, the midfielder whipped in an exquisite ball from distance that Chris Wood met with his head, narrowly missing the target; the kind of opportunity Wood scores more often than not.

And it was Anderson's run down the wing, and the looped ball that followed, which resulted in a headed clearance landing at Wood's feet. The striker did not need any further invitation to score the game's winning goal.

There was bewilderment when Forest signed 21-year-old Anderson in the summer for a fee said to be £35m. That was later reckoned to be £15m in the deal that sent Odysseas Vlachodimos the other way to Newcastle United.

Whatever the fee, the Geordie Maradona - a nickname he acquired while on loan at Bristol Rovers - is probably one of Forest's most astute gs in recent years. Eddie Howe is no doubt still lamenting the Magpies' profit and sustainability situation that saw him lose one of his most talented youngsters.

Always available and keen to be in possession, Anderson can pick a , carry the ball up the pitch, make runs into space and shoot from range. If anyone wondered where he would fit in, they wonder no longer. While clearly favouring being higher up the field, he can easily play as a number six, eight or 10.

Plus, if anyone wondered how Forest would cope without Morgan Gibbs-White - injured and suspended on Monday - then Anderson's performance against Palace proved that Forest's talented squad is now big enough to (almost) cope with star players missing.

It is rare that a new g arrives and fits straight into the first XI. Like Nikola Milenkovic, Anderson is one of those gs, and one of the reasons that Forest now sit comfortably in eighth position in the Premier League.

Find more from Pat Riddell at The Famous Club, external

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We asked for your thoughts after Monday's Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace.

Here are some of your comments:

Forest fans

Doug: Very good performance, seeing as we had two key players out of the starting line-up. The most encouraging thing was that once we scored, we did not sit back and allow the opposing team to come on to us. A solid defensive performance as well.

Ken: A great win against a side who are better than their league position suggests. The table doesn't lie - we deserve to be where we are. So many brilliant performances from Matz Sels, Murillo, Nikola Milenkovic, Elliot Anderson, Ryan Yates and Chris Wood. Win on Friday and we can go fifth for 24 hours!

James: Another first-class performance by Nuno’s boys! Superb defensive line proving different for any team to breakdown! Pundits need to think again where Forest may finish this season. Many had written us off already but the Premier League has surprises every season. Fingers crossed the Reds will be one of them.

Palace fans

Mark: No lack of effort but lacking confidence. Too much on Eberechi Eze’s shoulders. Struggling in midfield due to injuries. Need a win and quickly. Going to be a long hard season. Must stick with the manager but we could be reliant on the promoted sides faltering or not improving. Massive six pointer against Wolves.

Christopher: Another defeat and of course things are now getting more and more gloomy. I simply cannot see where the goals are going to come from. The defence looks nervous and with a bad error from our goalkeeper, Dean Henderson is going to be extremely nervous against Spurs this Saturday, as will the fans. I’ll be at Selhurst, but it’s going to be a hard watch.

Gavin: Groundhog Day: We started well, but we cannot sustain any momentum. Tactical changes required as we do not look like scoring. Eddie Nketiah needs to play as an out-and-out number nine because he is persistently too deep. Ismaila Sarr should be used for his rapid pace and ability to cross into the box while the midfield is simply ineffective. Incredibly frustrating performances of late.

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Chris Wood has scored seven of Nottingham Forest’s past 10 Premier League goals and five of their eight this season (63%). Only Liam Delap (67% for Ipswich with four out of six) has scored a higher share of his side's Premier League goals this term.

In bagging the only goal against Crystal Palace on Monday, Wood became just the third player to reach 20 Premier League goals for Nottingham Forest after Bryan Roy (24) and Stan Collymore (22).