Nuno Espirito Santo has tempered Champions League expectations for Nottingham Forest after they moved as much as fourth with their win over Brentford final Saturday.
Targets in both half from Ola Aina and Anthony Elanga ended the Bees’ unbeaten document on the Gtech Group Stadium this season.
Forest have now received as many away video games within the Premier League this season (5) as they did in 2022-23 and 2023-24 mixed, whereas solely in 1994-95 (10) have that they had extra away wins in a top-flight marketing campaign.
Additionally they have 31 factors from their 17 league video games this time period (W9 D4 L4). It’s the earliest they’ve attained 30+ factors in a top-flight season since ending third in 1987-88 (14th recreation).
What’s much more spectacular is that their factors haul this season is only one shy of what they managed once they completed seventeenth within the 2023-24 marketing campaign.
The Opta supercomputer fingers Nuno’s facet a 4.6% likelihood of ending within the high 4 on the finish of the season, although the Forest boss insisted there may be nonetheless room for enchancment.
“I’m all the time assured. For the reason that begin of final season, I’ve all the time been assured that good work, dedication and dedication can obtain good outcomes,” Nuno stated.
“I’m very pleased with the gamers with the way in which they’re working day-after-day and staying humble – and recognising that we now have plenty of issues to enhance and an extended technique to go.”
Up subsequent for Nuno is an encounter in opposition to former facet Tottenham on the Metropolis Floor on Boxing Day.
Having received six of seven Premier League conferences with Tottenham between 1993 and 1997, Forest have now misplaced every of their final six in opposition to them.
However they are going to be assured of piling extra distress on Ange Postecoglou, having received every of their final three Premier League video games, final profitable 4 consecutively within the top-flight between April and Might 1995.
Nuno, nonetheless, has overseen an overhaul of gamers throughout his time on the helm within the East Midlands, with 11 new faces arriving on the Metropolis Floor forward of this season.
However when requested whether or not extra additions could be welcomed by way of the door in January, Nuno was reserved, saying: “Actually, we now have two video games to go [before the window opens].
“That is what we’re focussed on. In fact, there may be work to be completed, however in the suitable second, we are going to do it. However now the main focus is on Spurs and the way properly we compete once more.”
