Nottingham Forest boss delivers striker verdict after brilliant FA Cup win

Boss Steve Cooper was delighted to see January signing Sam Surridge bag his first goal for Nottingham Forest - while arguing it should have been a brace.

Surridge found the back of the net on his first start since signing from Stoke City on deadline day in January, helping the Reds clinch a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

After seeing an early strike controversially ruled out for offside against Huddersfield Town, the 23-year-old hit a well-taken equaliser at the City Ground.

It capped an all-round impressive performance by the striker, who had been brought into the XI, along with Max Lowe, as one of two changes made by Cooper from Friday night’s 1-1 draw at Sheffield United.

“He did well, didn’t he,” Cooper said of Surridge, after his team’s 2-1 fifth round triumph, which sets up a quarter-final clash against Liverpool.

“Keinan (Davis) played his first 90 minutes for more than two years on Friday, and it was a tough one. The game just came a little bit too quickly for him.

“We needed to be fresh. Huddersfield are thriving in the Championship; they’re good for their position.

“We’re a fit team and are in a good physical condition, but Jack (Colback) and Keinan were still feeling the effects a little bit from Friday - Jack with playing in a different position and Keinan doing 90 minutes.

“Maybe they could have played, but they wouldn’t have been 100 percent.

“We had good changes with Max and Sam.

“Sam has had good contributions as a substitute. He deserved a start. I don’t think anyone would disagree that he made a good contribution - not just with his goal, which should have been goals.

“He played well. He’s a good player.

“I’m pleased for Sam. I know him personally from my time at Swansea. I know how hard he