Nottingham Forest supporters saw another side to Nuno Espirito Santo when he smiled with relief and declared himself a happy man in his interview after the penalty shootout win over Bristol City in the FA Cup on Wednesday evening.
Even now, he is thrilled. “It was massive for us,” he tells Sky Sports. “I consider the FA Cup a unique chance to fight for a trophy.” And a fight it was. It has taken replays to see off Blackpool and Bristol City and set up a fifth-round tie with Manchester United.
It was anything but fluent. There were not the rapier-like counter-attacks that cut apart Saturday’s opponents Newcastle United away at St James’ Park. Nor was there quite the buzz of excitement that accompanied the recent home win over Manchester United.
“It is not just the movements that you make. Identity is what we saw against Bristol City. Players struggling after four months out. Players in pain but still on the pitch because we do not have any more substitutes. Players giving everything. Players never giving up. This is identity. This is the first step. Never give up.”
These are fraught times at Nottingham Forest. The decision to dispense with the services of Steve Cooper was an emotional one for the club’s supporters given everything that he had achieved, all that he had made possible. But the threat of relegation loomed.
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