Chris Wood Brace Fires Nottingham Forest As Leicester Boss Steve Cooper Loses Reunion

Chris Wood struck twice in Nottingham Forest's 3-1 win at Leicester as the New Zealand striker condemned Foxes boss Steve Cooper to defeat against his former club on Friday. Ryan Yates put Forest ahead in the East Midlands derby at the King Power Stadium before Jamie Vardy levelled for Leicester. The in-form Wood restored Forest's lead and netted again with his seventh goal in nine matches this season. Forest' second successive victory lifted them into fifth place in the Premier League.

They have lost just once in nine league games this term, proving their decision to sack Cooper and hire Nuno Espirito Santo was a shrewd move.

Cooper was facing Forest for the first time since his dismissal in December.

The 44-year-old spent two years in charge of Forest, guiding them from the bottom of the Championship back to the Premier League after a 23-year absence before being axed with the club just above the relegation zone.

Nuno saved Forest from the drop, while Cooper was hired by promoted Leicester in the close-season to replace Enzo Maresca after the Italian's move to Chelsea.

"It's self-inflicted, no doubt about that, and it's on us. We all have to take responsibility for how the game panned out. We made poor mistakes for the goals," Cooper said.

"It's a setback after winning a few games coming into this. We have to accept it."

Forest's first win at Leicester since 2013 was sweet viewing for Nuno, who had to watch from the press box as he served the second game of a suspension.

"Chris deserves his plaudits. He's done an amazing job. He's very honest and he gives everything on the pitch for us," Nuno said.

"It's not about the table. This group wants to progress and they want to make the fans enjoy. We see these players work