Misery for blunt Reds – and boss frustrated by Terriers’ winner, too
COOPER SAYS FOREST WERE THE BETTER TEAM BUT THERE’S NO POINTS TO SHOW FOR IT IN HOME LOSS
NOTTINGHAM Forest were left kicking themselves on two fronts after losing 1-0 at home to Huddersfield Town in their final game of 2021.
Not only did the Reds miss a glut of chances to get something from the Championship clash but boss Steve Cooper was particularly frustrated with the goal they conceded at the other end of the pitch.
It came from a move Forest had worked on stopping in the buildup to the game, with Duane Holmes linking up with Harry Toffolo before beating Brice Samba at his near post.
Try as they might, the hosts were unable to find the back of the net in response, making it two successive defeats for Cooper’s side.
“We haven’t won because we conceded a goal that we planned on not conceding in that way,” said the Welshman.
“We did a lot of work in the last few days about Toffolo and flat crosses into the area they scored from. It’s a real feature of Huddersfield’s attacking threat they’ve scored a lot of goals that way.
“I’m disappointed that after going through it thoroughly, we’ve conceded in that way.
“And then for all the chances we’ve created, we’ve not been able to convert one. “So that’s why we’ve not won. “But I won’t lose sight of the fact we were by far the better team. We were the dominant team and played the better football.
“In terms of the performance, it was a good one. We just didn’t manage to keep a clean sheet and score a goal.”
The result came on the back of Boxing Day’s 2-0 away loss against Middlesbrough. But in contrast to that clash, Forest had been much the better side on the banks of the Trent – just falling short in front of goal.
“The idea is to play like that, create those chances but to score. That’s the plan,” said Cooper.
“I’ve said to the boys, about conceding the goal and the chances we’ve missed but at the same time, we’ve played well in the game. I’ve said to them, keep going, keep your heads up.
“Nobody is going to be happy one bit about losing a football match but at the same time I’m not going to be narrow-minded enough not to see there was a lot of good things throughout the game.”
Meanwhile, Cooper was coy over the status of Forest’s loanees with the January transfer window opening today.
The Reds currently have Jordi Ose-tutu (Arsenal), Philip Zinckernagel (Watford), Max Lowe (Sheffield United), James Garner (Manchester United) and Djed Spence (Middlesbrough) on their books.
They are hoping to bring in Aston Villa striker Keinan Davis
for the second half of the season in the next few days, as Cooper looks to strengthen his attacking options.
Clubs are permitted only five loan players in their matchday squads but there is some doubt over the futures of some of those already at the City Ground.
Forest are sweating on a decision from Boro over whether to recall Spence. The right-back has become a key figure since joining in the summer, and he put in another impressive performance in Thursday’s 1-0 defeat to Huddersfield Town.
The suggestion is that he is eager to see out his spell on the banks of the Trent, although the final call will be in Middlesbrough’s hands.
Meanwhile, Osei-tutu faces a two-month lay-off with an ankle injury, having only just recovered from a recurrence of a hamstring issue which has troubled him in the past.
Given there is unlikely to be much of the campaign left by the time the Gunners youngster returns, it would come as little surprise if his deal is ended early.
“There is no update from me on any of the loans – Djed, Jordi, Phil, Jimmy,” said Cooper, when asked about Osei-tutu after his side’s 1-0 defeat to Huddersfield Town.
“Until I get told differently, I will just carry on working with the boys.”
Of the other loanees, Lowe is making good progress in his recovery from injury, while Zinckernagel and Garner have both publicly expressed a desire to spend the whole year at Forest.