Hello, everybody. Welcome back to the Garaboli Red podcast on this Wednesday afternoon. And it is nice to be talking about a Forest win for once. Forest beating Fulham. Three goals to one, an excellent first-half performance, an emphatic first-half performance. And Forrest saw it out in the second. Of course, Fulham getting one back. And it was a little bit nervy at times, but we did it. We never make it easy. It's Come on. So it is a much needed win for Forest. And we're out the relegation zone, more points back, the four points get deducted from Forrest, but we get them back in two games. And that magnificent banner before the game that said to shut out the noise with Morgan Gibbs-White certainly did work for the team, and it worked for Morgan as well. An incredible performance from him to discuss the game. And lots more, joined by, first of all, Max Scott, a broadcaster for Talk Sport, Very good, Max. I saw some stuff you did for Talksport the other week. It was excellent on Forest, mate. You're flying the flag high at the minute. How are you?

Yeah, I tried to, mate. I appreciate it. And it's lovely to be talking to you both after a win.

I mean, who'd have thought? Who'd have thought? Strang. An Easter miracle has come true, albeit a bit later. Also joined by Sarah Clapson, who has joined us last minute, actually, Sarah.

So you like-Lace standing.

Yeah, you like... I might say Chris Wood, but he started recently. You're like, I can't think of a player. You're just a player that comes on in the last minute and always seems to- Takes the glory. Yeah, exactly.

Yeah.

Right. Let's discuss the game and we'll start with you, Sarah. Just what a win and how are you feeling after that? Because just so big, we talk about these Cup finals being left in the season. It really was one last night and Forest did the job and did it in style, didn't they?

Yeah, I think it was almost a must-win game before. Not technically, but I think being at home on the back of that Palace performance and Rizal, it was the night where you thought it was capable of being special. Tuesday night under the lights at the city ground, it always has that feel about it. But the way things have been going, you wondered, is it going to happen? Is the performance going to happen on the pitch? And the players going step up? Are they going to respond? Is the crowd going to respond? And that first half was just sensational. From the first minute to the last, it was just absolutely brilliant. Incredible to watch some really, really good performances. A lot of standouts. But the second half, I think, was just as impressive for me in how Forrest saw it out and the way they managed it and the way Nuno used his substitutions because it's something he's coming for a bit of criticism for. His starting lineup is coming for a bit of criticism as well. I think last night he got it right. He got the lineup right and he got his subs right.

The way that Forrest... He wasn't without his nerves and his tension and his hold your breath moments for sure. But seeing it out and getting the three points, it should be a huge confidence boost. It should be the start of a bit of momentum, the start of a run. And that's what it's got to be. It's no good getting that result, putting that performance, and then going back to playing the way they were or It's been a bit not as much on the front foot. Difficult to expect, as I know in the next game, but they've got to take a lot from it. They've got to build on it. They've got to use that now and keep it going. And that way it will count for something. Otherwise, it just becomes one of those moments where you hope it means something, but you don't know until the end of the season.

Yeah, exactly. Big win, but you're right, you need to take it into the next Cup final now as such. We are live on Facebook and YouTube, by the way, so if you want to get your comments in, then feel free to do so. If you were there at the game last night, what did you make of it? Man of the match, standout performances, all of that. We welcome that. Max, when you look at that performance last night, and Sarah mentions key players, and it just being excellent, it's almost what we've been crying out for as fans. The club put that in a brilliant video last week of almost saying to the fans to bring the noise. Then there was this expectation, I think, recently of, Well, let's see the players bring the performance and ultimately bring the win. And they did that last night, and it was so important.

Yeah, there's always a bit of a cliché about games like this. Towards the end of the season, if you're in a relegation fight, The phrase is always wheeled out by people like us. This is the game that could change the course of the season. It's the game that if they win this, that cliché is that we get paid to write and say. But ultimately, I really feel that the first half performance was so good, was so dominant, and was so thrilling that I really do think that that result has the power, if you like, or the ability to change the course of our season. I mean, Fulham are a really impressive side. Marco Silva has done a fantastic job. It's no surprise that we understand that Marenackis, at some point, has been interested in potentially bringing him in as a manager. So they're no slouches. To be able to absolutely tear apart a Fulham side that have been really impressive is a real testament to the side, to Nuno. Like Sarah said, I think he got it right the way he set the side up, but I really just feel it was that good. I've had a few pelters from some of my colleagues today because I said there were moments in that first start where it reminded me of prime Barcelona.

Now, I say that slightly with some slight exaggeration, but Morgan gives white was absolutely majestic. He was mercurial, and we know that he's capable of doing what he did. But perhaps this season, something has been missing in his performance, maybe that final ball. And Fawzia Garibaldi hats off for an absolutely captivating display, which I think really just set the standard and set the tone for Morgan gives White to have what I think was his best performance in a Forest shirt, certainly this season, potentially since he's joined us. And what a relief. And like I said, I really think that it can change the course of this season for us, certainly.

Yeah, totally agree. Simon says on Facebook, Ola, Ania and Williams were fantastic last night, as were the whole team. Every corner of full-on was scary. It wouldn't be Forest without conceding from a set piece, but we won't really touch on that today because we get sick of talking about it. Sarah, when you look at a player like Morgan, and as Max said there, and that brilliant display, and you could see him on the TV looking up to the trend send, it must have done his confidence, the world of good, almost seeing that. And he said in his interview with Colin Frey, how it was quite a touching moment. And just a player like him, he comes alive in those games and a special night at the city ground. And that's what Forest ultimately paid the price tag for. It was a price tag that was criticized at the time. But you can understand why Forrest paid that now.

I mean, it looks a bargain, doesn't it? The more he delivers and the more he keeps playing like that. You could see him looking up at the display beforehand. I'm sure it gave him that little bit extra. He doesn't need any motivation anyway. He showed him that the second half on Saturday that he wants to be the main man. He thrives on having that responsibility, on being at the center of everything, of pulling the strings, of having the spotlight on That's why he takes the responsibility for free kicks and corners. You could argue maybe somebody else deserves a go at that. That's probably a separate debate, but I think he enjoys it. He enjoys having that responsibility on his shoulders, and he uses it. And when he puts in a performance like that, the more responsibility you give him, the better, because he'll respond. He'll step up. It lifts him. He sticks his chest out. He holds himself higher and he just goes for it. He was unplayable at times in that half. He was just sensational to watch. And the more he keeps playing like that, the better. And the more eyes are going to be on him.

I mean, there's already a lot of talk about him anyway, and I'm sure if he keeps putting in that performance, then he's only going to develop further, but he's the player that isn't bothered about that. I think he enjoys it, even. He enjoys people talking about him and reveling in how good he is. He can get even better. I think that's probably the most exciting part about it, that he's still got so much more to give. He's still so pretty young, albeit he's one of the more experienced heads in the dressing room now. Well, he's a leader as well. I think that's what I really like about him. He saw full-time afterwards. He got up off the bench, punched the air, having celebrated the win. But then he went round and he congratulated all his teammates. And you could see him calling out some of them like, Saying over to Matt Sells, 'Come here, come here, I want to say well done, and going around, giving hugs out. And he's a real team player. I think he said in one of his interviews afterwards that it was just another game for him. I think he was maybe being slightly Modish there, a bit of an understatement because it was definitely not another game.

But his all-around contribution, it's just sensational. I'm so glad he got a goal to go with it because it capped off that first half. It would have been brilliant anyway, but to get a goal as well just was the cherry on top of the cake for him.

Yeah, for sure. And just the atmosphere and that first half felt so special. And it was Can't remember looking to my dad and saying, 'Forest are three-nil up. ' It was before the referee blew his whistle for halftime, and it's been a while. In fact, I think that's the second time in Premier League history for Forest. I was reading last night that we were three-nil up at halftime. It doesn't come a lot, and it hasn't certainly this season. Just touching on Morgan quickly, again, Max, before we move on. Do you think it could be argued that if Morgan was playing for a top six side or Forest were a top six side, that England and Southgate would be taking a closer look at him? It's often talked about in modern day football that there's this almost bias towards the top six in terms of players being selected through the England ranks and sometimes justifiable given the quality, the likes of Foden, et cetera, and Bellingham. But when you look at a player like Morgan for Forest, surely there's somebody at the FA, there's somebody in that set up watching him and thinking he'd be a great player.

Yeah. And look, Morgan's been a part of the set up with Southgate before, and so there's no doubt that Southgate considers him to be somewhat of a prospect for the future. Look, last night, he was sensational, like we've described, but there have been issues with him in terms of consistency of those very top levels, but he's no doubt capable full of it, and with no disrespect to the club that we love, but he is playing for a club that's fighting for their lives in the Premier League. And I think he carries that responsibility, like Sarah has been saying, so well, and he relishes in that. There's no doubt, Morgan as white, is a top six caliber player. And I think if you put him in any of those sides, he wouldn't look out of place. And I think there are certain sides, like Manchester United, who still struggle to, I think, have that character that clubs like Forest have at their best. I think he'd fit perfectly in there. I know that he's not got the experience or the international pedigree, but at his best, I don't think there's any difference between him and someone like Bruno Fernandez whatsoever.

That's just my personal opinion. But I think that he's incredibly impressive and he will have an England career at some point. And I think Forest fans are already resigned to the fact that if Forest are going continue to want to have a sustainable financial approach to the game, then Morgan Gibbs-White is likely going to be someone that we're going to have to sell in order to make sure that we don't fall foul of any more rules. Of course, we hope that's not the case, and maybe there's a will that that doesn't happen, but he's destined for greatness. I think, unfortunately, his stock is rising far quicker than Forrest at the minute. It's going to take us a long time to establish and become maybe the likes of Bright Aston or Aston Villa. That's going to take a long time. But Morgan gives why as much as I think he loves the club is going to, I think, want success sooner. But what I love about Morgan gives why, Max, the last thing I'll say is, what other player could come from another team and be adopted so quickly as one of our own? We're a side that's lost people like Joe Warrall, people like Brennan Johnson.

Ryan Yates is the only player, I think, that is from that promotion-winning side, certainly the only homegrown player that's really left there. And Morgan gives why it feels like that. And for him, 18 months after joining or whatever to have his own display, I think he's the perfect mixture of modern football and old-school football. He plays with the bit between his teeth and a chip on his shoulder, but he has this fantastic technical ability. That turn and one-touch turn outside of the boot through ball to Callum Hudson-Loy for the first goal was exceptional. So I could talk all day about Morgan gives away. But in answer to your question, yes, I think that he's capable of playing for London. And yes, I think he'll have an income career.

Just on that, what I would say is that he was really close last season. He was definitely in Gareth Southgate's thinking. And I think He was very close to getting a call up at some point. What the difference is between him and some of the other players that are competing for that position is goals. Previously, he hasn't got a lot of goals. I think under Nuno, we started to get more. If he can keep adding that to his game, I think that's what's going to maybe make the difference in terms of getting a call up. He's certainly capable of it.

Because last night, I think, showed what we know he's all capable of, and maybe why sometimes in the stands, people get a bit frustrated too quickly with Morgan because they know what he's capable of. And so what he showed last night is him is very best. And you're right, Sarah, I think that's really what he needs to add. Sometimes that final ball and that final finish, he could easily be a 10 goal, minimum 10 goal up a season midfielder for sure.

Yeah, just incredible. And yeah, you're right, Sarah, it's quite an interesting point, actually, that with the goals and something he has lacked and probably a part of his game that himself and the Forest coaching staff know He needs to improve. We'll touch on a few more players. I mean, so many stand-up performances last night for Forest. This comment from Mark, having Ola Anya back is huge with the performance last night. Not only is he good on the ball, but his electric pace massively helps. Really, a player, Sarah, came back for Forest from Afcon, someone that was not under the radar as such, but was almost coming good for Forest, and then Afcon happened. Having him back, having his pace, having, again, he's a bit of a character around the dressing room as well. We see him in videos, post-game in the dressing room, smiling, joking. That's vital for Forest, and not just that off the pitch, but his technical ability on the ball and his pace. It's almost lightning quick for Forest at the minute.

Yeah, he was very good last night. I think both fullbacks were. Nico Williams is in a real purple patch at the moment. And having two both fullbacks playing really well, that made a massive difference. Both got forward really well, both used the ball pretty well, but also pretty solid defensively as well, which helps massively. Eina had a really good first half of the season. He came in and remember, he showed his pace against Manchester City in that game and he just looked brilliant. It was a great signing. Afcon disrupted that a little bit in that obviously went away for a bit and got an injury, came back, wasn't able to get straight back in the side. So not that... Harry Toppilow is a really steady defender at left-back. I think he does a job. But having that bit more going forward when you're trying to get on the front foot and play with intent and play with a bit of pace and try to get at teams, it just It adds that little extra when you've got somebody like Ola Eina in. Nuno Tavares, I think, was starting to show that as well before he, unfortunately, picked up an injury.

It just shows what a difference fullbacks can make in the modern game and how important they are. Having two that can really bomb on and can put crosses in. Nico Williams came close to getting on the score sheet last night. It just helps. The more players you've got chipping in, it just makes a massive difference. It takes some of the pressure off the attacking players and just free them up a bit as well. Creates space, creates more problems for the opposition. I think Aina, having him back is really important. Having a fairly fully fit squad in general is pretty important at this stage of the season. You need options.

Yeah, Forest do. Forest need depth going into the huge remaining games. And given that players will more likely get maybe tired and an injury strain potentially, you need those players that will help Forest get over the line and ultimately secure survival. But Forest a step closer after yesterday, three points outside the relegation zone now. And of course, we have those four points back pretty much from the Premier League because Forest got the draw against Palace and then a win last night. Max, Before we touch on more players and single some out, wanted to touch on Nuno, and a lot of criticism came in for him last week, and me and Mark discussed about it. And fair criticism as well, because it was one win in 11. It wasn't good enough for Forest, but he got the side spot on last night. He got pretty much everything spot on tactically. And it is a manager that I do feel, and Dave actually mentioned this on the last podcast we did, that if he keeps Forest up, if he almost creates that bond with the fans, given that it will secure our Premier League survival with him at the helm, you feel like it could come good next season.

And there's a lot of talk about him being the right manager. What do you make of him at the moment and the team selection last night and almost finding that consistency as well?

Well, long may it continue. We should praise Nuno for that. It's been difficult for him. I've spoken on here before about the fact that really difficult club to come into. Four-point seduction, iconic manager left, bit of a power vacuum. So yeah, no doubt he's had a difficult hand dealt to him. I think lots of fans could have picked that side a couple of weeks ago. Obviously, though, he sees much more. He's at the helm. So I'm almost reluctant to give him too much praise for the team selection, but in terms of setting... I mean, the way we played, no one would have expected that. And so he deserves so much credit for the way that he sets up those players. Look, who did... Yeah, I think I heard that Morgan Gibbs-White has... It was on commentary last night. Obviously, I'm in London, I couldn't go to the game. The commentator was saying at the end of the game how Morgan speaks really highly of Nuno and how he's really underrated. And I do think that in the fickle footballing world that we all occupy, our memories are so short, aren't they? And we forget sometimes very quickly.

And we forget that he had a two back to back, consecutive seventh place finishes for Wolves, I think it was. That's no mean feat with respect to Wolves, a club like Wolves, who are in a similar situation to us. It'd be great if It'd be great if he stuck around. He obviously first kept us up and we could build with him. But something tells me that our club isn't settled that way. There's going to be a summer of rumors. There's already been stuff about Mauricio Sari. I know that some of those rumors have been rubbish, but the fact that they're even in the media in the first place as a fan, not as somebody that works in the media, but as a fan is so frustrating because you think you're putting even more pressure on Nuno, who is quite reserved. Sometimes you wonder, Is I'm not sure if it's the pressure getting too much to him? I'm sure it's not. But Max, I don't always get too carried away with this one beautiful as it was victory, because I just think that I'm only speculating. I have no reason to suggest this. I don't have any inside sources.

I just worry that there would be a shoot from the hip change at the end of the season. That wouldn't surprise me. So I don't think we can ever think too far ahead in terms of management, but it would be ideal because I think that he's got a good pedigree, good experience.

I'll never forget when I was sat in a maths GCSE revision class and I looked at my phone and it was Martin O'Neill was sacked, and then about two minutes later, Sabri Lamuttu has announced as a replacement. That was never a door day supporting Forrest or for you, Sarah, reporting on Forrest.

What were you doing looking at your phone in school?

I know, yeah, exactly. Tell me off. I actually think it was school, yeah. God, that feels ages away.

But when we look at Forest's time under our owner, Steve Cooper has been the longest serving manager, hasn't he? Actually, in modern day terms, it's probably quite a long time. But we have a history of hiring and firing, and so I don't think that that will necessarily change. I'm not pre-empting anything, but it just wouldn't surprise me.

Yeah, we'll see. We'll see, we'll see indeed. Andrew says, If we can play with the same intensity and passion as we did last night against Spurs and the rest of the games, we should be as safe as possible. Just hope that we'll start with the same team because they work better together and deserve the chance to play at the weekend. Gregory says, Chris Wood's our best striker. Taewo is past it. This one there with an interesting comment. People are overlooking how much Nuno has tightened up the defense. No team, including Liverpool and Man United, have now scored more than one goal against us in the last six games. That's an interesting stat, actually, didn't know that one. Yeah, very interesting about... And a good point about Nuno tightening up the defense as well. Right, let's talk about Chris Ward because I think we've He's running out of superlatives for him. And a player that I'll openly admit wasn't sure when he came into Forest, he was criticized amongst the terraces and including myself. But he's come good. Two in two for him, nine goals in twelve. In fact, I've actually got a list of stats for Chris Wood.

I'm going to save some till the end. But Sarah, how vital is he becoming for Forest given Taewo's injury? He's leading the line, another character in the dressing room. He's been there in the Premier League. He's done it. And just Brilliant performance from him last night.

Yeah, that goal was so clever. Picking up the ball with his back to goal, the term was so neat. And then the finish. To spot the gap first place was an exceptional play, but then to finish and to the goalkeeper flat-footed. Brilliant. I don't think it got lost a little bit because of how good Morgan, Gibbs-White was and how impressive the whole performance was that Chris Wood's goal was like, Oh, yeah, Chris Wood scored again. But It was so clever, so intelligent. He's on a real run at the moment, full of confidence, absolutely flying. And it's all about getting the right service to him. It's all about making sure he has the support because there's some times where he's He's thriving off scraps at times in previous games, and he just doesn't get any help. If you give him the support and if you play to his strengths, you get the best out of him. I think he's thriving under Nuno. He seems like a Nuno type of player, which is a little bit ironic in that it was Steve Cooper that was really keen to get him in and how it's now Nuno that's actually getting the best out of him.

Even if a one year was fit, and I can't say I was agreeing with the comment about a one year being past it, but I Absolutely ridiculous. Even if a one year was fit at the moment, Chris Wood is first choice for me because he just fits better. It would be great if Tyro was fit because Having more options, again, is so important. The more players you can chip in with goals and help out from off the bench, especially at this stage of the season, you really need that. But Chris Wood is just a little bit ahead in the pecking order. And if he can keep up the goal scoring street between now and the end of the season, then all the better. And you wouldn't put it past him. The fact that he's been involved in relegation fights before, the fact that he was involved last season, but also at Burnley, he knows what happens, he knows what it's all about, he knows what you need to do That counts for a lot as well. An experienced head and somebody who is just really calm, composed, does his job and does it very well.

The more he can keep that up, the better.

Yeah. If Tyro is past it, I must be ' one appearance in a charity football match.

He's been in it all season, bless him. It's not like he's 35 anyway. I get the point. The other thing about Chris Wood, when we were talking, I was thinking, how many strikers Forrest have signed in the past that are meant to be good and have flotte? And I don't know if my mind's playing tricks on me because we got so many. Did Forrest at one time sign Ross McCormick or McCormack?

He lit it up for Villa or Leeds or whatever he did.

And then we got him and he was dreadful. I mean, growing up, Championship, League One, Championship, the amount of strikers we thought would come and do the business for us and never did. And it's almost like the world's turned upside down because Chris Wood's clause was something ridiculous, wasn't it? If he makes three appearances that we had to buy, we then had to pay 15 million quid, or something like that, don't quote me on it. And I remember thinking, crikey. And this is at the peak of the the otherworldly spending that was going on that's put us into this situation. But anyway, we wanted to talk good news. But when that happened, I thought, Wow. It's turned out to be an absolute blessing in disguise. It makes you realize that we're often so far too quick to judge. I know myself, I can include myself in that. He's just been pustgas-worthy. The Boxing Day hat-trick, world-class finishing. I think we saw that with the header. Do you remember that Hernández header? No, Chicharito header for Manchester United when he headed it back. I mean, that's It's not scratch on the header against Palace. And then last night, Sarah described it so well.

I'm just so enthusiastic about Chris Wood. It's absolutely mad. From what I've heard as well, he's a real leader in the dressing room. When I say the things I've said, I don't mean it in any way as disrespect to Chris Wood, but I don't think he's ever been seen as a dynamic goal scoring striker. He scored 12 goals, I think, this season for us, right? And so it just massive credit to him. And like I said, I think he's really a key leader in the dressing room. You see him in interviews and he's incredibly measured and calm, and that's exactly what Forrest needs. And so, yeah, brilliant. The Kiwi God.

Yes. You need a You need a Chris Wood poster in the background or something, Max, to add to your work. Yeah, my walls are a bit bare, aren't they? I was just going to say, I'm probably... In fact, maybe all of ours. You never know. If someone's watching and they fancy doing us a Chris Wood poster, then send it our way and we'll have it up in Garabald. You've had HQ in no time. You know what? It is funny. So many people criticize him, and including myself at times. And he has just come good recently for Forest, and he's been such a key player. Right, moving on to another two standout performances, but more so wanted to highlight Hudson Adoy rather than Alanger. At 72 appearances for Chelsea, when he was there, Hudson Adoy only scored four goals. He's made 22 appearances for Forest, and he's already scored five. So he's bettered that by one. Again, another player cuts inside. He's got that about him, and he knows what he's doing, doesn't he, Max? When you look at him and you just think that's a Premier League player right there, the money that Forest paid for him just turning out to be almost a steal.

The same as as even Morgan is. I know Morgan's price is slightly higher, but Hudson and Doy was quite a low buy and not a cheap buy. I don't mean that in a disrespectful way, but someone that's turned just really good and now thriving under Nuno as well.

Yeah. Look, for as critical as I've been, for as critical as a public as I've been about my criticism for the spending of the club, I do think the way that they spent the Brennan Johnson money was really good. And you look at someone like Callum Hudson Adoy, what's really heartwarming is, he, by Munich, wanted to buy him for about £100 million a few years ago. He's had this Achilles injury, which he's even come out and says he doesn't think he'll ever get back to his peak. But I think Forest has been the perfect club for him. He can be a real threat for us when he cuts in on his right foot. Yeah, it's great to see. And I think as he builds in confidence, so does Forest. Our journeys, I think, are on the same trajectory. Really encouraging and again, really relieved that he started as well as Anthony Alanger. They're both different types of threats. I think with a ball at his feet, Kalimoutsu Adoy is a real threat, but the pace then in behind on the other side of Alanger is great. And so really hope that he stays fit. I always worry, sometimes he just looks injured by the countenance on his face.

Sometimes I think, 'Oh, are you about slip a disk or tear your hernia or whatever? ' But thankfully, he's managing to get through. And I think the more games he plays, the better he's going to get and he's going to grow with Forest.

Yeah, for sure. Just wanted to touch on Matt Sells as well, Sarah, just quickly. Just great performance from him and almost steady the ship. The goalkeeper situation was something that we've talked about for ages. It feels like it goes into that stuff I want to put away in a drawer in the summer lock away for a while. Transfers, money, FFP, corners, set pieces, and the goalkeeper situation can get thrown in there as well and shipped abroad somewhere, so I don't have to see it. But Sells has really steadied the ship. The fans feel more confident with him in goal. The players do the backline in particular. And he made some excellent saves at times last night as well.

Yeah, that save at 3-1 was so important. A really, really good save as well. He did it so well. He's just a good, steady presence, I think. And he's capable of pulling out those saves. And they're so important in such big games like that because it doesn't just affect the score line. It also gives the whole team a lift. And you can see that the defense take a lot from it. He takes a lot from it. The whole crowd does because it gets everybody going again. It gets cheered almost as much as a goal or a tackle or a big moment in the game. They matter, and you need a goalkeeper that can pull out those moments. He's certainly capable of that. I think his distribution is also really good. He's pretty good with the ball, and even when he's not, he's got Morello in front of him who you can pass the ball to and he'll just ping a pass forward and get you going again. That side of things is really important in the game. Defense, goalkeeper, being good on the ball, being good with distribution, because it can just help you, especially when you're trying to get on the front foot and play with a lot of intent.

You need everybody Are you involved? You need to start from the back. And he does that. It was quite funny that Matt Turner also got involved and got his booking last night. He had a little bit of a contribution as well. So I think he had a wry smile when he sat back down on the bench afterwards. I mean, it really was a whole collective effort. It was just one of those memorable nights. I think the goalkeeper situation, getting it sorted was so key. And you can look at January now, and I think at the time I said, oh, no, I think it would be a waste of money signing another goalkeeper. So I definitely got egg on my face for that because it's proved to be a good decision. And hopefully it does solve it longer term now. Maybe the backup situation has to be looked at in the summer, but I think Matt Sels has got the number one shirt and he's wearing it well.

Yeah, many fans will probably say that what Matt Turner did last night was maybe the best thing he's done in a long time. That's harsh. I know what you're saying.

I think Matt Sels, look, yeah.

He's a good shot stopper, I'll say about Matt Turner. He's made some really good saves.

Some of the stuff on Twitter is hilarious. Like, just some of the retweets of the video are fantastic.

Thankfully, we've got sales. That's all I'll say on that one. Let's look at the wider relegation battle and the wider picture now and how much it does for Forest, given the confidence. Max, we've talked on here a long time, constantly ask the question about more and more, do you think Forest will get relegated? And I don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but last night, great performance, highlights to pick out, key moments that makes you feel like Forest might just be okay, and maybe I am getting it too ahead of myself. But I just feel now that the side can take real momentum into this, and you just never know what could happen at Spurs on Sunday night.

Yeah, I think the interesting thing about that is Spurs have looked pretty mediocre, I think, in the past couple of games. They only struggled to a victory over Luton. They drew against West Ham, obviously West Ham are a good side. But I do perhaps think that whilst Anjposter Koglu has been a breath of fresh air, whilst they play this abounding football, I think maybe there's a little bit too much hype around Anjposter Koglu and Spurs, and the minute anyway, or perhaps that is running out. And look, their favorites for the game. It would not surprise me one Iota if they beat us comprehensively. I'm not saying they're a bad team, But they have a really high line, don't they? I think it could be if we sort these set pieces out and defend well, it could be a fascinating game end-to-end. We've got the players that punish that high line that Foster Coughly seems adamant on keeping, fair play to him, that's his philosophy. So it could be a really interesting game. In terms of the relegation battle, I think my reflections have developed a little bit in terms of Luton. I've said on here how much I admire Luton and what they've done with all of the injuries and all the stuff around Tom Locker.

Tom Locker, yeah.

There is also a part of me that thinks, Look, if you can't stay up in a season where two of your relegation rivals get get points deductions, then I'm sorry, but you deserve it, really. And it'd be interesting to see what happens with Everton. I think we're expecting to hear something latest on Monday. Look, there's so many balls up in the air. But like I said right at the beginning, that performance was so good in the first half. It, for me, really sets the precedent for the rest of the season. I don't think there's any way the boys can go into the next game not feeling much more confident back in their own ability in the way they Loads of different spinning plates, but I'm feeling much more confident than I was a few days ago, to put that way.

Sarah, you're feeling good apart from, I've just realized you're probably going to have to get about. I'm just going to say the game has been moved now, hasn't it, to the Sunday, so you can get a train in a tube, can't you?

Yeah.

You'll be all right.

Yeah, just about, I think. It'll be a long day, but hopefully it's worth it. I think What Tuesday Night is, is it's an opportunity, it's a chance to build, and it's a chance to follow that standard. It's a blueprint. It's one that forests have to use. It's one that they have to take going forward. As we said right at the start, it's all about building on it and not going back to old ways, because Tuesday Night was reminiscent, really, and it's not all that long ago, of the start of Nuno's tenure when Forest were really competitive in games. It was like the Newcastle game. It was like the Man United a game. It was very much that style of play. And for some reason, and I guess there's a lot of factors that went into it, they veered away from that for a spell. They've got to get back to playing that way. Use Tuesday night, follow that up. Spurs is going to be incredibly difficult. But I think what is important in it is being competitive. If Forest can go there and be competitive and really be in the game, the result necessarily doesn't matter too much because like Max said, Spurs are favorites.

I think it's going to be tough. It's going to be really tough. But put in a good performance, feel like you've Had a say in the game in some way, have another good solid team performance, some good individual displays again. And then that sets up the next few games, which are the really important ones, Wolves at Home, some massive away games. Then it doesn't dent the confidence. It doesn't dent the momentum and the spirits from Tuesday night. The result isn't the most important thing for me on Sunday. I think it's all about how Forest play and all about how they use Tuesday. And then build on it going forward from there. Because the running is... There's some massive games there and some big opportunities, some games that you look at and think that it play like Tuesday night and that they're winnable and the gaps then can grow and there'll be a little bit more breathing space and it can hopefully avoid any last day, last minute nerves and just ease the situation a little bit because it was a massive relief on Tuesday. You could feel the great big exhale of breath at the full-time whistle as well as the celebrations.

It just took a weight off the player's shoulders as well and probably off Nuno's. I'm sure he was feeling in the spotlight a little bit because of the results and the performances and the criticism. It just lifted. It lifted the whole mood and changed everything. But now it's about building on it and using that opportunity.

Yeah, for sure. I woke up this morning with a spring in my step, and for so long I've wanted to lie in dark rooms after the games and podcasts. Maybe I'll go on a 10K run. I might go on a marathon this evening because I'm being that gast after Forest's win last night. Right, that That'll do us nicely. Max, thank you as ever. Enjoy whatever you're up to. Any Easter eggs to celebrate potentially? You talked about having mac and cheese last time. Have you got that tonight?

No. Last time I'd just eaten before it came on a really sweaty microwave mac and cheese, and I don't have that. No, I've got Hello Fresh.

Oh, very nice.

So I'm going to cook something fancy this evening. I was the same as you, Max. This morning, I was in work at 4:00 AM this morning, not because I'd been up all night on the vendor celebrating, just because that's when I start work this week. And honestly, I was a changed man. I felt like I was a forest evangelist. I was telling everybody about how great Morgan Gibbs-White was. I made sure that the presenters knew that Marco Silva was forced into making three substitutions at heart.

As just as he was saying, that really good point we've lost.

Timely.

I know, yeah. Don't worry. He's gone. He's back. You never know, Sarah, if Hello Fresh want to sponsor our podcast, then they can. That'd be good, wouldn't it, actually? Especially being at Uni, I could do with a few free meals.

Great going.

Enough food chat. Let's end it there. As always, if you do enjoy, drop us a like and subscribe on YouTube. Give us a review on Spotify and Apple podcast because it really helps us. We will see you later on in the week for a preview for Spurs, and then after on Monday, back with our main episode. As Forrest gets a big emphatic win, two in two for Chris Wood, nine goals in twelve. It's the first time he scored outside of the box for the first time since 2021. That was against Fulham. What a stat. Four points. Premier League, we'll have it back. Bye-bye.