Cooper’s plotting a Blades stunner
HULL N FOREST
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STEVE COOPER declared Forest in “great shape” for the play-offs – after a chaotic finale at Hull.
The promotion chasers blew a third-place finish, slipping up in injury time and setting up a play-off semi against Sheffield United.
But Cooper hailed Forest’s revival this season and called on his players to finish the job.
Brennan Johnson’s 92nd-minute penalty should have earned Forest the win and their best points total in the second tier since 1998.
But England Under-21s striker Keane LewisPotter ruined their chance of finishing ahead of Huddersfield by nicking the equaliser in the 94th minute.
Forest have leapt from a 17th-place finish last season to fourth this term. That’s a massive improvement fashioned by Cooper, and they now face their biggest test against the Blades.
Cooper said: “I think we are in great shape for the play-offs. We wanted to win and finish third.
“To come from bottom of the league to third is great, so fourth place is also good.
“The play-offs are unique games no matter who you play, and it is a challenge.
“Sheffield United? I have not thought about them much yet.
Two big stadia, two big clubs with passionate fan bases.”
Meanwhile, Hull manager Shota Arveladze confirmed that midfielder Tom Huddlestone was leaving the club, which had its best home crowd for five years.
HULL: Baxter 7; Jones 7, McLoughlin 7, Greaves 7; Longman 6 (Coyle (45th) 6), Smallwood 6 (Huddlestone 77th), Slater 6, Elder 6; Honeyman 5, Lewis-Potter 7; Allahyar 5 (Eaves 77th)
NOTTINGHAM FOREST: Samba 6; Worrall 6, Figueiredo 7, Panzo 7 (Johnson (63rd) 7); Laryea 6 (Spence 77th), Cafu 7, Garner 6, Lolley 7; Zinckernagel 6; Mighten 7, Xande Silva 6 (Surridge (63rd) 6)
REF: S Hopper
STAR MAN: Cafu