Steve Cooper issues message to his Nottingham Forest side ahead of Stoke clash

Nottingham Forest have transformed into a totally different side under Steve Cooper and are now harbouring plenty of promotion ambitions – and their new boss has told BBC Sport that he wants his squad to ‘focus’ in a bid to try and seal a top six spot.

The Championship club looked like they could originally be in for another season of struggle. They flattered to deceive last year and ended up right near the bottom of the division and they began the new campaign with much of the same.

With no sign of results improving at the City Ground, the club decided to part ways with manager Chris Hughton. That resulted in Steve Cooper, who did a fine job at Swansea, being handed the vacant role.

Since he has been brought in, the side have thrived. With exciting talent in their ranks and plenty of goals throughout the team too, they have been able to surge up the table and are now eyeing a promotion place rather than a relegation one.

With Forest now sat in sixth place – albeit only on goal difference as things stand – they are now exactly where they want to be and boss Cooper will not want his team to let their hold on a play-off place slip. There are still plenty of games to be played and plenty of points to be won and lost and Cooper has now spoken to BBC Sport about a need for his squad to ‘focus’ as they bid for promotion.

The Nottingham Forest manager said: “We have to stay in the moment and focus on what we’re in control of. That is recovering and getting ready to get back to the City Ground on Saturday.”

“We have a really tough game against Stoke,” Cooper told the BBC.

“I watched them against Swansea and they were excellent. They’ve had an extra day’s rest than us and we need to get ready for that and not think about anything