Nottingham Forest know replicating last season’s brilliant City Ground form is not simply a given as they prepare to host Brentford this weekend. The Reds picked up some big results at home last term, not least the win over Arsenal in May which clinched Premier League safety. Losing just five league games on their own turf proved crucial to securing survival as Steve Cooper’s side struggled on the road. Forest fans played a huge part in that impressive record as they created a special atmosphere on the banks of the Trent. Cooper has reiterated the important role supporters continue to play, but he accepts his team have to do their bit on the pitch if they are to make the stadium a fortress once again.
Steve Cooper said “We take it game by game,” the Welshman said ahead of Sunday’s clash. “We know about the away games of last season, but we always went into a game wanting to give our best and thinking if we did certain things we could get the right result. It is no different at home. Of course, the atmosphere at the City Ground and the support the team, myself and the staff get is very beneficial, there is no doubt about that. It’s really authentic. It is something which has been built up over a real history; it’s not new. Of course it has benefitted the team, but we don’t take that for granted. We know the most important thing we’ve got to do is focus on what we are in control of, and that is playing the game as we want to play it. We have to commit to a game plan, use our values and our beliefs and our way of playing to full effect. That’s not always easy to do because of the opponent and what it takes to do well. We are very clear about how we want to play. We are very clear about what we think it takes to do well in a game. Doing it is another thing, home or away, but we’ve just got to go into games committing to it as best we can, and if we get it right we will give ourselves the best chance. But that is only an ‘if’. We’ve got to make sure we commit to it as best we can.”
