How Steve Cooper has given Nottingham Forest fans a team to be proud of amid FA Cup magic

After another memorable night under the City Ground lights, Steve Cooper was asked how it feels to be reviving a club of Nottingham Forest’s stature.

“Well, we haven’t yet,” was the straight-faced answer, before the Welshman left nobody in any doubt his attention would quickly turn to Saturday’s league clash with Reading.

“Some people have said about turning things round, but we’re ninth in the league. That’s not enough for this football club, and we know that.”

It might not be a full-fledged revival just yet, but there is no disputing Cooper has breathed life into a campaign which was threatening to head in a very different direction.

There is still plenty more to come - all to play for in the play-off race and a mouthwatering FA Cup quarter-final on the horizon.

But Cooper and his squad have already given Reds fans some of the hardest commodities to come by in football. Hope, belief and a team to be proud of.

Monday evening epitomised that.

The FA Cup ties this season have been magical occasions, and this one was another special one to add to a growing list.

Up against a Huddersfield Town side who hadn’t lost since November, and with the carrot of a meeting with Liverpool to play for, it had the potential to be a tricky one to navigate.

Even more so when the hosts found themselves having to come from behind, having seen a perfectly good goal chalked off for offside.

One of Forest’s greatest strengths this term, however, is a refusal to be beaten. They simply do not give up.

They had been by far the better side prior to Tom Lees heading the visitors in front, and continued to stick to their task after the setback.

Far from dwelling on his earlier celebrations being quashed by the assistant referee’s flag, Sam Surridge