Insight into 'excited' Nottingham Forest camp as cheeky message sent to hat-trick hero

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Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper says there is an “excitement” among his group of players as they prepare for Tuesday night’s showdown with Bournemouth.

The Reds make the trip for the rearranged clash at the Vitality Stadium (7pm kick-off) knowing anything other than victory for the hosts will take the race for automatic promotion down to the final game. Three points for the Cherries, on the other hand, would secure them second spot.

Forest, though, have thrived on the big occasions plenty of times already this season amid their charge up the Championship table. And on the back of Saturday’s 5-1 rout over Swansea City, Cooper says the squad are itching to get going on the south coast.

“I see a real good focus. I see a real good engagement. I see a real calm, but excited feeling among the guys,” he said.

Saturday was a day to remember for Nottingham Forest striker Sam Surridge - and James Garner ensured that his teammate will never forget the role he played in his match-winning hat-trick.

Surridge scored three goals against his old side Swansea City at the City Ground as the Reds ran out 5-1 winners in an emphatic victory. It was his first career hat-trick, too.

Garner, on loan from Premier League outfit Manchester United, set up two of his three goals on the day. The first came from a corner that Surridge headed home.

The midfielder then played Surridge through for his second, which was brilliantly struck into the top right-hand corner. It will certainly go down as one of the finest finishes of the season. The forward then capitalised on a loose ball after a shot had hit the woodwork for his third.

While most players simply left