Cooper era starts with home draw and call for more quality
NOTTINGHAM Forest head coach Steve Cooper described his first outing in the City Ground hot seat as “tough” following a 1-1 draw with Millwall.
Matt Smith scored for the sixth time in 16 matches against Forest to give the visitors an undeserved lead.
Lewis Grabban, Brennan Johnson and Joe Lolley all squandered good chances to shoot on goal before Smith’s finish.
Max Lowe levelled the match shortly after the interval with a deep cross which looped over Bartosz Bialkowski before settling in the top corner at the far post.
Both sides had chances to snatch all three points, but a draw was a fair result.
“It was a tough game and a lot of moments in the game. I think the chance Lewis had early was a really good chance,” said Cooper.
“I think we started really well and if Lewis scores early on then perhaps it’s a different game. With him coming off, as the captain, it stifled us a little bit.
“I don’t think anyone deserved to be in front at half-time but we are disappointed that we were down. It was a goal we had planned not to concede.
“We wanted to stop crosses, we know that’s the threat they have in Matt Smith when balls are in the air. When you plan for things you obviously want to do a bit better, but you have two choices when things are going against you.
“You either accept it and get beat or you roll your sleeves up and try to get into it. We didn’t quite finish the task by getting the three points but we did our best by getting back in the game.”
It was an entertaining match but Cooper says he wants to see more quality.
“The quality bit is an important point because we did get in good positions. We did get down the side of Millwall’s back three,” he said.
“We could have done better with the final pass and make more chances than we did. We will do that going forward as we have enough ability in the team and I want to get enough players up the pitch that can get at the opposition.
“We will be trying to win every game, that’s the mentality we will have, but especially at home. So the quality will get better as we go forward as there is definitely enough ability in the squad.
“I wanted an attacking bench, we only had one defender on the bench, because I wanted to go and win the game.
“It didn’t quite happen but I’m only interested in the positives. I know we’ve got things to work and improve on, but in the four days I’ve been here all I have seen is a set of players who care and want to do well.
“All they need to do is believe in themselves because there is enough ability here to do that.”
Cooper was also asked how much he had learned against Millwall that he did not already know about his Forest players.
“I’ve watched a lot of footage on the computer. As soon as I knew there was an interest, I watched all the games,” he replied.
“I’m a bit like that anyway with watching games but you learn technically and tactically off the footage. What I learned today was about character and personality and mentality.
“There was a lot of good things that I liked about that. We had two young midfielders, two young wingbacks, Brennan [Johnson] and experienced players too.
“It takes a lot of heart and soul to stand up and be counted for the club when you’re not winning games. We want to be winning games at home so we are naturally a bit disappointed that we didn’t today but we fought hard to get something out of the game.
“The intention is that it will only get better.”
Cooper acknowledged that it would take time to properly stamp his mark at Forest.
“I think this week was about really trying to jump on the back of the momentum from last week’s performance as it was excellent.
“Sometimes you want to just keep it going. The reality is that as much as we want and will be winning games at home – it wasn’t a poor, but wasn’t a brilliant one either – we want to jump on the back of what we did last week.
“They took some bits into the game, positional ideas, and some were really good.
“We may notice them a little bit more than others, but there are some bits which will take some time to be ingrained in the team and that’s the role of a coach – to get the team playing a certain way, demand it and that’s what I’m going to be committed to do.
“I’ve only seen a set of players who care and show that it matters to them. When you have got that, it’s a good start.
“We have got ability in the team, so we need to work hard to put it together for the mid and long-term but in the short term to win enough games along the way.
“The reality is that we want to be winning here, no doubt about that. We were 1-0 down and came back. We need to be positive about that, have a bit of pride about that, knowing that it will only get better.”
Cooper was particularly happy with the performances of wingbacks Djed Spence and Max Lowe against Millwall.
“I like the fact that first of all the players at the back showed a willingness and character to get on the ball,” he said.
“Midfield players I thought positionally worked well together as a two rather than two ones which is what we have focused on a lot this week.
“They are so willing. They are two young boys playing against an experienced team. It is not easy when 1-0 down with a big crowd so I liked the fact they were willing to have it out out there and they played some good moves.
“The wing-backs were outstanding, both of them. Djed got sponsor’s man of the match and I agree with that. I don’t think Max was far behind him too.
“When you play three at the back, you need wing-backs who can do a