Cooper: That was us and no need to change our approach
REDS’ ‘IDENTITY’
NOTTINGHAM Forest’s victory over Sheffield United showed the importance of playing with an identity, according to boss Steve Cooper.
The Reds have the edge in the semi-final, going into Tuesday night’s second leg at the City Ground having triumphed 2-1 at Bramall Lane.
If anything, they should be holding an even greater advantage, given the number of chances they created.
Jack Colback put the visitors in front early in a first half in which they could have been out of sight by the break. Brennan Johnson doubled the lead with 20 minutes to go, only for Sander Berge to hand the Blades a lifeline late on.
Far from it being a tense, cagey affair, though, Forest had looked to take the game to their opponents from the off.
For Cooper, it was a case of not wanting to change the approach which had secured a top-six finish in the first place.
“We knew we wanted to attack the game. It’s our way,” he said. “It’s really important the players recognise that to get to the play-offs in the Championship isn’t easy.
“You see the teams who are not there – and I don’t say that disrespectfully, because a lot of teams have had a good go.
“We did it with three, probably four, games to go.
“We didn’t really talk about it too much because we were going for automatic. But to do that means you’ve done a lot of things well to get there.
“You have to recognise that, not change, and try to do what you do even better.
“The first half is just how we play – attacking football, creating chances and taking risks.
“We didn’t want to concede late on but in 180 minutes-plus, they are going to have chances. They were probably a bigger threat with setpieces, which tells us a lot about how we played as well. But that’s the Championship, you have to deal with that.
“We always look at what we can get better at but the dressing room is really positive. There were lots of good performances.
“And they were good as well, Sheffield United. It bodes well for the neutral on Tuesday.”
Cooper was pleased to have had Keinan Davis back for the game, the striker having had a hamstring injury. Davis came on after 77 minutes, replacing Sam Surridge.
“It’s good to have him back. He had a really positive week,” said Cooper.
“The medics pulled me on Thursday, after we’d done the pre-match press conference, and said he’d really kicked on, that he might have a chance of being involved. So I said, ‘OK, yeah, no problem!.’ It’s great to have him back and good for him to get some minutes.
“He did some good things, as he does. Let’s see what he looks like for Tuesday.”
Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom hopes his side’s late goal in the tie will make for an “edgier atmosphere” at the City Ground tomorrow.
“It’s half time, there’s still loads to go,” said Heckingbottom. “You could see the whole body language of everyone connected with Forest, more so than us.
“We were not going to come off the pitch happy, we got beaten, but it certainly changed the mood amongst the fans, the mood among both camps.
“Hopefully it proves to be a pivotal moment.
“The game might be exactly the same at the City Ground, although it might make for an edgier atmosphere for them if they are going to defend deep or get pinned in by us.”
WAS CRUCIAL TO FIRST-LEG VICTORY, SAYS HEAD COACH