Worrall: Forest have a base to build on
AND DEFENDER SAYS FANS WILL MAKE BIG DIFFERENCE IF THEY ARE ALLOWED BACK
DEFENDER Joe Worrall says Nottingham Forest are well aware where they need to improve but he is convinced there is a platform to build on for next year.
After a campaign spent battling at the bottom end of the table, the Reds confirmed safety with two games to go when they drew 1-1 with Stoke City last weekend.
It means an otherwise miserable season at least ends with another year of Championship football secured. But after agonisingly missing out on the top six 12 months ago, the aim is to get back to that level in 2021-22.
To do that, Chris Hughton’s side need to find the net more often, as only three sides have scored fewer than their 36 goals in the league.
“We showed last season, 100 per cent there is the basis of something here,” Worrall told the Nottingham Post.
“Unknown Sabri (Lamouchi) came in and created that spark. The fans loved him and that was that. That season was fantastic until the end.
“This season, the manager has come in and steadied the ship. We’ve been hard to beat and haven’t conceded many goals. That’s testament to the hard work he’s put us through.
“But we all know where we’re lacking, and that’s at the other end of the pitch. That’s not pointing fingers at Grabbs (Lewis Grabban), Glenn (Murray) or Lyle
(Taylor), it’s just how the season has gone.
“But whoever the manager is and whoever the players are, I really enjoy playing for Forest.
“It’s second nature to me, I love coming in every day and training, and playing at the City Ground.
“The biggest thing is trying to get the fans back in, because playing in front of a packed City Ground is just different level.”
Forest are 17th in the rankings ahead of tomorrow’s trip to face relegation-threatened Sheffield Wednesday.
Hughton and Worrall both made clear after the stalemate against the Potters there would be no taking it easy against the Owls.
But once the fixtures are completed there will be time to take stock, with centre-back Worrall hoping supporters return to the City Ground in August.
“We’ll dust ourselves down, look after ourselves and try to have a good summer - if the traffic light system lets us! Then we’ll look towards next season,” he said.
“Who knows what it will bring. We’d never have thought we’d have been pushing for promotion last season and, on the contrary, we’d never have thought we’d be scrapping to stay up this year.
“It’s never boring at Forest. “We have to use this time to reflect now because a lot of our performances this season, including my own, have been below average.
“We’re really optimistic about getting the fans back in the ground next season because they’ve been a huge miss for us.
“But now we need to get our chins up and look forward to being at the right end of the table next season.”