FOREST BOSS EXPECTS A QUIET START TO WINDOW
BOSS NOT EXPECTING EARLY MOVES IN JANUARY WINDOW
LEWIS Grabban’s second half penalty clinched a precious 1-0 win for Nottingham Forest away against Preston North End.
The Reds were in the Championship relegation zone before kick-off but they climbed to 19th with the three points as they made it five games unbeaten.
Here’s what Forest manager Chris Hughton had to say after the win.
■How big a win is that?
“It feels like a really big win, because we are away from home and because of the run we are on and where we are in the league – which is not a comfortable position to be in, I must admit.
“We have found it tough to get wins, so I’m really pleased.”
■Do you think you got a bit of luck?
“Yes, I do think we got a bit of luck. “The first-half performance was really good but the frustration was we went in at half-time 0-0.
“When you’ve had a performance like that, you really want some value in it, as regards a lead.
“You know the second half is going to be different, because you know the opposition are going to be better in the first half.
“But I think over the 90 minutes it was a well deserved win and we were the better side.
“Sometimes you just need that bit of luck. The goalkeeper’s had to make a couple of really good saves and they hit the crossbar.
“We got the penalty – which was a penalty – just at the right time.”
■Alex Neil felt Lewis took two touches for the penalty. What’s your view on it?
“At the time, I couldn’t see and you can’t see from the camera angle we’ve got.
“But what I’ve been told is, yes, he did slip, but it wasn’t two touches on the ball. He slipped and he’s actually kicked himself. “That’s what I’ve been told. “It came at a big time and he took it really well.
“We’ve had a few games where we have deserved more than we’ve got, so it was good to get the win.
“Sometimes there’s a feeling that you just need something to go your way. They hit the crossbar and Brice (Samba) made the save, so you do start to think, maybe today is our day.”
■You started the day in the relegation zone, did that play on your mind at all?
“No.
“You can’t afford to think that way, otherwise you can start making decisions that maybe you wouldn’t have made before.
“It was a fact but it wasn’t anything we spoke about.
“It just makes the three points that much more valuable.”
■You got into some good positions in the first half but without the end product. How disappointing was that aspect?
“It is disappointing, because it puts pressure on the team.
“We work hard to get into those areas and we like to think we’re a team which is trying to win games.
“But when you get into those areas, it’s about the quality you show.
“That’s the area we need to improve on.”
■Would you expect any transfer
business before the next game?
“Probably not. “Most work seems to get done in the second half of January, as opposed to the first half. “But we will try. “January is always very difficult and we have got to make sure that anything we do adds to what we have got and improves us, otherwise there is no point.
“I am really looking forward to a clear week with no midweek game, before the FA Cup.
“That will allow me to do some work with the ones who perhaps haven’t been playing so much, and look forward to the FA Cup game.”