TEAM-MATES AND BOSS SALUTE REDS HOT-SHOT
HEAD COACH AND TEAM-MATES FULL OF PRAISE FOR FOREST FORWARD
LEWIS Grabban reached a landmark 20 goals for the season when he found the net for Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
The striker was clinical from the penalty spot as he helped his team to a 1-1 draw away against Preston North End, reaching a personal milestone in the process.
Not since 2003 has anyone in the Garibaldi hit that target, with David Johnson and Marlon Harewood the last players to bag 20 in a campaign.
Grabban has been central to the Reds’ promotion push under head coach Sabri Lamouchi, with his tally coming in 42 Championship appearances.
Here’s what his boss and some of his team-mates have said about the impressive front man and his importance to the team.
SABRI LAMOUCHI
“Lewis Grabban ran and worked a lot today (against Preston) and he has played a lot of games in a short period.
“I am lucky to be the manager of this big club, Nottingham Forest. I am lucky to work with these players and I am lucky to play for what we are playing for now, at the end of the season.
“We are where we are because we have the striker, the killer, the guy to make the difference – the guy to score a lot of goals.
“There are a lot of managers and clubs in the Championship, and maybe higher, who would want him. “But he deserves more credit. “He creates a lot and is a danger for the opponent, so we try to help him as best we can because he’s a key player for us.
“And in important moments, your key players need to be there.
“I don’t have any doubts about him.
“His record in a season is 22 but I plan with him 25.
“He will score a lot of goals. “Even if he doesn’t score 25 goals, he has still scored a lot of crucial goals and got us a lot of important points.”
BEN WATSON
“It’s a fantastic achievement.
“He wasn’t far off hitting it last year as well.
“His goal record in the Championship is fantastic. Over the last however many years, I would think he’ll be up there with the highest scorers in the division.
“It’s important we’ve got someone who can put the ball in the back of the net.
“Hopefully, he can get a few more and he might be able to chase the top two scorers down.”
NUNO DA COSTA
“The attitude he has, he is a really, really good professional.
“He’s always working and is
always talking to me.
“When we won against Bristol City, it was a tough game and he said to me ‘don’t be frustrated, sometimes we don’t score but the three points are in the pocket and that is the most important.’
“I was thinking at home, ‘yeah, sometimes you don’t score.’
“For someone who scores so much, like him, to tell me that, it just made me think.
“I have to tell him, he’s right!”
RYAN YATES
“You know with Grabban, you only have to give him one or two chances and we can win a game 1-0.
“It’s really good having him at the top of the pitch.
“Everyone knows how massive he is for the team.
“He’s one of the best pros I’ve come across in the game. He does everything right.
“He’s not a massive talker but he shows what he can do on the pitch. He performs week in, week out. He’s always fit. He’s always covering really good distance for the team.
“A lot of people don’t realise how much work he gets through at the top of the pitch.
“And obviously goals are what he’s all about. He’s one of the best in the league at that.”