FOREST FIRED

Cooper ready to call it quits on philosophy

STEVE COOPER has admitted he is prepared to “compromise” his philosophy to improve Nottingham Forest’s survival prospects.

The play-off winners prop up the Premier League despite spending £140million on 22 new signings.

They slumped to a fifth successive defeat at Leicester in a 4-0 drubbing on Monday night.

But Greek owner Evangelos Marinakis has opted to stick with boss Cooper and gave him a new contract.

Cooper (right) is delighted to be continuing in the job he loves ahead of Aston Villa’s visit tomorrow as he plans to continue Forest’s exciting brand of attacking, passing football.

But Cooper knows his side have been too open defensively after conceding 21 goals in eight games and is anxious to tighten up.

Asked if he was prepared to now change his philosophy, Cooper said: “Definitely.

“Or maybe focus on more parts of our philosophy than others. A football match is about attacking and defending.

“Maybe at the moment we do need to think a bit more about when we haven’t got the ball because the numbers aren’t good in terms of goals we conceded and shots and set pieces that we have conceded.

“There is no point in not mentioning that because there is so much access to data now where that is there for everyone to have a view on. It is an obvious area to improve.

“Is compromise the word? Maybe, but it is more like a realisation of you have to change some things here or focus on things more than the other, that is where we are at really.”

Cooper, now under contract until 2025, was back on the training field this week.

The 42-year-old took charge last September and has won 29 of his 54 matches at the helm.

But this season is turning into a struggle since beating West Ham in their opening home game.

Cooper added: “What I love most about my coaching and technical team is we are very critical of ourselves.

“We have been having a tough time lately in our meetings.

“That is what elite sport is all about.”