Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DEAD WOOD? NOT FOREST!
Colback: It was WAY too soon to write us off
BY IAN BAKER
JACK COLBACK reckons Nottingham Forest have been written off too soon.
The Reds have won three and drawn once in their last five games, having looked on course for an immediate return to the Championship.
Steve Cooper’s men remain in the relegation zone, but are off the bottom and now just one point from safety, after Morgan Gibbs-white’s second-half winner against Crystal Palace (he celebrates, above right).
And veteran former Sunderland and Newcastle utility man Colback, 33, reckons confidence is high at the City Ground, as they look forward to a World Cup break, which will include warm-weather training in Greece.
He said: “We wanted to go into the break on the back of three points and we’ve done that.
“What we did last season was such a positive. We did not want to come and just make up the numbers. We wanted to be competitive.
“But the manager will not be happy until we’re moving further up the table. It’s been a difficult start but we have an opportunity to do something unique. All the players are all right behind it.
“What’s important is we are competitive in every game, pretty much. The place is positive and the fans are with us.
“There is a good feeling at the moment. But we know we have done nothing yet and need to keep pushing.
“Teams always get written off too soon. I’ve experienced that in the past at Sunderland being near the bottom.
“People come out and say ‘they’re down, they’re down’ but it is still half a season and all it takes is a couple of wins.
“We are not here just to roll over. We have shown it is difficult for anyone to come to this place.
“The aim is to stay in the
Premier League and then push on again. This win certainly helps.”
Plenty has been made of Cooper’s decision to make mass new signings. Only captain Joe Worrall, midfielder Ryan Yates and playmaker Brennan Johnson were at the club last term and started here.
One of those new additions – Jesse Lingard – is starting to find his feet. The ex-manchester United man scored for England in their last World Cup win against Sweden four years ago, but has not achieved his aim of making Gareth Southgate’s squad this time around.
Colback added: “Jesse’s a very good player. He came here with ambitions to go to the World Cup but it hasn’t worked out.
“He’s a good lad, he’s been a great addition. It was nice to see him get a goal against Tottenham and I’m sure he will be looking to do more for us.
“He brings experience and a positive mindset every day. That spreads around.”
Forest rode their luck with Wilfried Zaha badly missing a penalty before the break.
And then Gibbs-white was initially flagged for offside on 54 minutes, after bundling home, before VAR changed the decision amid City Ground joy.