Why Forest are at ease with Clough's legacy and pushing for the PL

Nottingham Forest’s late gallop for automatic promotion back to the Premier League is a remarkable turnaround for a club that was rock bottom of the Championship in September and has been absent from the top flight since 1999.

The Reds are 11 games unbeaten and are comfortably the form team in the second tier, with 27 points from a possible 33, as they travel to top-six rivals Luton on Friday.

Forest’s revival this season began with the appointment of Steve Cooper in the autumn, following the dismissal of Chris Hughton and six defeats in seven matches. Cooper changed the formation, restored some positivity and instantly embraced the club's illustrious history.

However, close observers of the two-time European Cup winners say this success on the pitch has long been in the making off it, and a rejuvenation of the fan base is a key part of the transformation. 

The current side is built around homegrown academy talent and long-serving players, there is a new unity within the club, a more solid connection to the city than has been the case for years and the fan group Forza Garibaldi has worked tirelessly to create a positive atmosphere in the stadium, which is now bouncing every home game. 

In addition, Forest – the club and fans – finally look at ease with their famous past under Brian Clough. All of which helps to create a solid stage on which the players are free to perform. 

‘I have never seen, in person, Forest play in the Premier League,’ Matt Jones, a member of Forza Garibaldi, told Sportsmail.

‘Personally, I see [past success] as such an amazing story. It is the history of the club and something to aspire to. I don’t see that success as something to live up. We were the underdogs.

‘It is an underdog story and that