Steve Cooper reveals difficult conversation before crunch Nottingham Forest win

Head coach Steve Cooper admitted a difficult decision - and a difficult conversation - was required when it came to his Nottingham Forest team selection against Bristol City.

The Reds eased to a comfortable 2-0 win at the City Ground, courtesy of goals from Brennan Johnson and James Garner, to keep them in the mix at the top end of the table.

But Cooper had a tough call to make beforehand over which of his midfielders to leave out as he looked to bring Philip Zinckernagel back into the side.

Forest had lacked ideas in a flat display at Preston North End on Tuesday night, and the inclusion of Zinckernagel did help to address that against the Robins.

Recalling the Dane meant leaving out one of Garner, Jack Colback and Ryan Yates, however - with the latter the one to find himself on the bench.

And the Reds boss may also soon have another selection headache when Brice Samba returns from suspension, given Ethan Horvath has kept successive clean-sheets in his absence.

"For sure he's given me food for thought," Cooper said of the American shot-stopper.

"And also, it's never easy leaving Ryan Yates out, I'll be honest with you. It's never an easy decision.

"And it's definitely not an easy conversation, because, for as good a guy he is and as good a professional he is, he's a winner and he does not like sitting in that dugout.

"But that's what we want.

"It was the same with Phil in the last game, and it will be the same with the next game - we will have tough calls to make.

"But I would rather that headache than not having it."