Steve Cooper makes Nottingham Forest performance admission v Blackburn

Forest took the three points at Ewood Park to bolster their promotion chances. The game was won following goals from James Garner and Brennan Johnson. 

Cooper revealed his delight with his side’s performance, as the Reds moved into the play-off places. 

“I thought we more than deserved the win today,” said Cooper, via the Lancashire Telegraph. 

“Second half especially after the 10 men, really we should have run away with it, we could have and should have scored four or five.

“But we did not quite show the composure or the decision-making that we showed for the first goal but we kept getting in.”

Blackburn went down to 10-men following a challenge on Keinan Davis by Darragh Lenihan earned him a second yellow. 

Garner had already put Cooper’s side in front by then, with his 22nd minute striker giving Forest the lead that they never squandered. 

Johnson put a nice sheen on the scoreline with a 90th minute penalty, to confirm the victory over their fellow promotion challengers.

The win took Forest to within seven points of Blackburn, who are now third in the Championship table. 

Up next for Forest is the visit of Stoke City to the City Ground on February 12.

This was a very impressive performance from Forest, who followed up their excellent weekend win with aplomb. 

Due to the fixture mess-up, teams above and below Forest have all played a different number of games which gives a false picture of what the table really looks like.

However, this sixth place is massive for Cooper’s men. The club were bottom of the table when he took over in September. 

If Forest can continue to beat good sides in an impressive manner like this then they are surely set for a top six finish.

Source