The end of the last international break of the season is finally in sight. Nottingham Forest make the trip to face Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Cup on Saturday (5.15pm kick-off) with a place in the semi-finals up for grabs.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will go into the game knowing they are just 90 minutes away from a possible trip to Wembley.
The tie marks the start of a big run-in for third-placed Forest, who have nine Premier League fixtures remaining to clinch qualification for Champions League football next season.
Reds reporter Sarah Clapson opens up her notebook on the latest goings on Trentside...
Lucky pants
Footballers can be a superstitious bunch at times. It seems Forest winger Jota Silva counts himself among that group and has his own particular matchday ritual.
In an interview with Portuguese newspaper Record, the 25-year-old “joked” about the superstition of always playing in the same boxers. He quipped that even if they rip, he would use them anyway!
Asked what would happen if someone accidentally pulled down his shorts and ripped his boxers, Jota joked: “I don't even think about it. I hope it doesn't happen.
“I'll have to solve the problem somehow. If it's not too big a rip, I think I'll be able to play in my boxers like this!”
The big focus for the wide man, though, is continuing to make his mark in English football after last summer’s switch from Vitoria Guimaraes. Prior to the international break, the Portuguese scored his third goal - and second in the Premier League - for the Reds when he found the net in the 4-2 win at Ipswich Town. It was the 70th goal of his career.
“To be among the best league in the world is a dream come true,” said Jota. “I found a fantastic group of people, both human and professional.
“It wasn't difficult to adapt. I found a superstructured club that helped me with everything.
“When I scored my first goal in the Premier League (against Brighton last month), I thought: ‘I'm ready for this. I've taken the right step.’
“If we continue to be as competent and serious as we have been so far, I think we'll achieve great things by the end of the season.”
Get your special Nottingham Forest in Europe souvenir edition
We have produced a special 48-page edition of the Nottingham Post celebrating the club’s two European Cup wins.
Nottingham Forest are flying high in the Premier League and Reds fans are dreaming of a return to European competition. It has been an outstanding campaign for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men, who are on course for a place in the Champions League next season. And Forest supporters can whet their appetite for a possible return to football’s top tier on the continent with our 48-page special edition celebrating the club’s two European Cup wins.
undefined
Buy now and have it delivered directly to your door. Alternatively you can purchase in most supermarkets, high street retailers and independent newsagents in Nottinghamshire from April, 2 2025.
For online order postage and packaging applies, orders will be posted from April 2, 2025.
Key moment
It has been an unforgettable campaign for Nuno’s side so far, full of memorable moments. The 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield back in September is certainly one of them.
And it seems that is when Forest themselves started to think they might be able to achieve something special this season, at least according to full-back Ola Aina. After successive relegation fights since the club’s return to the top tier, that result was a statement of intent.
Asked when he had started to believe it might be possible to really do something this term, Aina told The Inside Scoop podcast: “I can’t lie, after the Liverpool game. We (Aina and goalscorer Callum Hudson-Odoi) were looking at each other like: ‘Fam, phew, we’ve just done these lot up - fam, we could go anywhere, do anyone up!’
“Before the season, if I’m being totally honest, me personally… Third, heck, that’s a massive jump from where we were last season. But I knew we were going to improve from that season.
“I did know, with the players that we had, the manager and he would have a full pre-season with us, I knew we were going to improve. But we’ve just taken it to different heights.
“The manager keeps us level-headed. I can’t lie, sometimes I’m going to training like, bruv, we’re really knocking on Champions League door, let’s really lock in.
“I pray so (for Champions League qualification), because as a team and as a club we have been working hard. As much as you see us joking and laughing, people have been putting in the work. So hopefully.”
Seeing red
In the bid for constant improvement, small details can make a big difference for players. For Reds ace Anthony Elanga that has involved using special red-tinted glasses.
The 22-year-old has revealed he has turned to the eyewear as part of his fitness regime. They are said to promote better sleep and help improve fitness.
“It helps me sleep,” Elanga told Swedish publication SVT. “It’s important to keep an eye on your body, especially when you play so many matches.”
Elanga is not the only Premier League star to wear such glasses. Manchester City duo Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish have both been pictured wearing similar specs.
Haaland has previously explained: “I think sleep is the most important thing in the world. So to sleep good, simple kinds of things, blue blocking glasses, shutting out all the signals.”
Red lenses in glasses are said to block out blue and green light. According to The Sun, red tints can increase melatonin in the body, which plays a key role in regulating sleep.
Elanga wore the glasses while on duty with Sweden, having been recalled to the squad after missing out on the previous camp. He started Saturday’s 1-0 friendly defeat away to Luxembourg for his 20th cap.
Impressive stats
It will be a sprint to the line when the Premier League campaign resumes after the break. After taking on Brighton, Forest’s first league game back will be at home to Manchester United next Tuesday (April 1, 8pm kick-off).
No doubt the final weeks of the season will be full of twists and turns, with the race for Europe particularly right. The Reds will hope to pick up from where they left off, having toppled the Tractor Boys at Portman Road last time out.
According to Sky Sports, that 4-2 win represented a 20th first-half clean-sheet of the Premier League term for Nuno’s team as they were 3-0 up at the break. They have got to half-time without conceding a goal more times than any other side in the top tier. Arsenal and Everton have the next best record of shut-outs in the opening 45 minutes with 19 each.
Another impressive stat is that Forest have opened the scoring in league games 22 times so far this season. That is also more than any other team. Sky’s statisticians report no side has scored more opening goals in the first 30 minutes of matches - or the last 30 minutes - than the Reds.
What has impressed me recently
Chris Wood doing what Chris Wood does by scoring a hat-trick for New Zealand in last week’s 7-0 thrashing of Fiji. The Reds will have everything crossed the injury he picked up during the 3-0 triumph over New Caledonia in the early hours of Monday is not a serious one.
Moment missed from the weekend
Wood again. No sooner had he bagged his treble, the front man was booked - apparently for signing autographs and taking pictures with fans while the game against Fiji was still going on. He had been substituted just past the hour mark and had headed up into the stands to mix with supporters.
Player with a point to prove
Morgan Gibbs-White will no doubt be eager to show England boss Thomas Tuchel what he can do if he plays against Latvia this evening (Monday). The Forest ace was left out of the match squad for last week’s 2-0 victory over Albania but has made the 23-man cut for tonight’s Wembley clash.
Next up
A return to action for the Reds with an FA Cup quarter-final clash away to Brighton on Saturday. Kick-off on the south coast is 5.15pm.
Will Forest be playing in the Premier League next season? Click HERE to have your say
Get breaking Forest news sent direct to your phone
Join our Nottingham Forest WhatsApp group and get the latest breaking news, interviews and opinion sent straight to your phone, plus matchday team news and live updates of all the action. Just click here and select ‘Join Community’ to get started. The only proviso is that you must have WhatsApp on your phone to participate. No one will be able to see your personal information and you will only receive messages from the NottinghamshireLive Reds writers.
We will not spam your WhatsApp feed with constant messages, but you will receive updates from us daily with the latest Reds stories. If you later decide to opt out, just go to the name at the top of your screen and click 'Exit Group'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you are curious, you can click here to read our Privacy Notice.