Nottingham Forest’s penalty shoot-out win over FC Midtjylland, to progress into the quarter-final of the Europa League, brought the moment of unity Vitor Pereira has been craving — far counteracting the physical toll ahead of their crucial game with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. George Edwards was at the match
Since Vitor Pereira arrived at Nottingham Forest, the 57-year-old has been craving a unity that Forest’s performances have rarely fostered.
Eight games into his tenure, he got that moment last night.
In true Nottingham Forest style, they didn’t do it the easy way against FC Midtjylland, participating in their ninth penalty shoot-out in four years to get the job done.
But once the full-time whistle blew, the importance of Forest’s progression was stark, and how much it meant was evident.
Going to extra time and penalties was far from Pereira’s plan.
Pre-match, he emphasised the importance of Forest’s Premier League survival showdown with Tottenham at the weekend, hinting at several changes from the side that has become established in league games.
Midway through the second half and 2-1 up in the tie, Pereira sent on several reinforcements from the ‘first team’ to usher Forest home. Yet many of those changes halted the dominance Forest had in the game, as Midtjylland drew level and the visitor’s control on the match slipped.
Playing a day later than Spurs, the extra 30 minutes risked taking away crucial match sharpness and readiness from the likes of Elliot Anderson, Ola Aina, Neco Williams and Morgan Gibbs-White; all four were in the thick of the action after their introductions, many who have struggled for breaks in minutes all term.
But the mental gains from winning a penalty shoot-out and the moment it gave everybody at the club far counteracted its physical tolls.
After commiserating their Danish opposition, the Reds’ players and staff just couldn’t wait to make their way over to the away end, in fine voice all evening; enthused by the euphoric manner of progression.
It had echoes of the FA Cup quarter-final shoot-out victory at Brighton last year, where the whole Forest contingent forgot about the trials and tribulations of the season and revelled in the current feeling of triumph.
It was also the first time many of the squad felt a moment like that. This season has seen more moments of frustration and bemusement between the away end and players than positive interactions; Wrexham and Braga spring to mind, amongst others.
Many of the players who drastically underwhelmed in those fixtures were flung into the firing line once again, finally producing a performance to justify their place in and around Forest’s matchday squad.
Nine changes from Fulham last Sunday, they played like they had something to fight for. Forest’s Europa League season has largely been defined by a lack of performance from their wider squad; yesterday was defined by their spirit.
In the first half, Forest could have had five. They certainly ought to have scored more than the one goal they did get, with 11 shots and an xG of 1.39 while only conceding one effort on their own goal throughout.
They attacked with directness and variety, creating chances via crosses, set pieces and some lovely forward balls from James McAtee and Omari Hutchinson. It was vital they went in ahead at the break to have something to show for their dominance — Nico Dominguez’s header four minutes before the whistle was vital in keeping spirits up.
Ryan Yates then put Forest ahead eight minutes into the second half — 17 minutes before Martin Erlic’s strike that levelled the tie and eventually forced the shoot-out — the captain rifling the ball home with his weak foot from just inside the penalty area.
And if there was one player to epitomise Forest’s performance, it was him.
By the end he was playing on one leg, grasping his groin from early into extra time but unable to be replaced, as Forest had used all their substitutes. It was clear he was vastly uncomfortable, but nothing was stopping him seeing the game out and putting his body on the line for the football club he loves most.
Yates was denied the ultimate moment in the second half of extra time as he sent a wicked header looping into the top corner, only for the flag to be raised for the narrowest of offside calls.
But his performance exuded why — while he maybe wouldn’t have the quality to get into many other Premier League sides — he always remains a crucial part of everything Nottingham Forest do.
With Porto now on the horizon, a European quarter-final awaits the club for only the fifth time in its history, and they are far better for it.
Many sections of the fanbase wanted everything on the line for Tottenham, regardless of the toll on their European campaign. But the moment of winning a European trophy would distinctly outweigh the disappointment of relegation, especially to many who have grown up with knowledge of Forest’s illustrious past but no first-hand experience to go off.
For Tottenham, they are also far better prepared now than they would have been losing the game in 90 minutes.
Division would have grown and pressure would likely have mounted on Pereira, given the cutthroat nature of Evangelos Marinakis and the perilous position Forest would have been in, with no European adventures to soften the blow.
Pereira himself had his first moment of affection with the Forest fans at the end, following several renditions of “Vitor’s red and white army” from the visiting support throughout the match.
In true Steve Cooper style, Pereira stepped to the front of the celebrating pack and delivered three fist pumps, a moment that could prove the turning point of the season.
Forest’s progression wasn’t the real point of significance from last night, it was the connection it produced. Nottingham Forest felt together again, for the first time in a while the whole squad felt connected with the manager and the fanbase.
This week has the potential to save or destruct Forest’s season. They have done half the job, and for the first time this season, European success alongside Premier League survival seems a viable possibility.
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