Nottingham Forest drew 1-1 with Aston Villa at the weekend to gain another point on Tottenham Hotspur, who lost at Sunderland.
The Reds claimed a share of the spoils after falling behind, and the result leaves Forest three points clear of the relegation zone with six Premier League matches remaining.
🔢How many points do Forest take from this run of fixtures…
Matz Sels was in fine form to deny an in-form Villa team the chance to win all three points, but once again Forest showed some fight in the race to survive relegation.
There were a number of pretty steady performances for the Reds against Villa and James Perch has admitted that one player reminds him of a Newcastle and England star.
Nottingham Forest celebrate scoring vs Aston Villa
Photo by Kate McShane/Getty Images
James Perch compares Neco Williams to Tino Livramento
Livramento is on course to begin England’s World Cup campaign as the first-choice right-back, and Perch believes Williams is just as good at Forest.
The defender scored Forest’s equalising goal against Villa, which earned a hard-fought point for the Reds, and Perch praised him on the Forest Focus podcast
He said: “I love him, I think he’s been great. I’m surprised there hasn’t been any interest in him. Even last season, listen, I want him to stay forever.
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“I just think what people don’t see and what I do a little bit is that he’s always there. He’s always available. Always fit. He plays 90 minutes every game.
“When the chips are down, you need players like that. I’ve been there, and when you’re in a relegation fight, you get some players who might feel a hamstring or say their calf is tight. He will play every game no matter the situation.
” I love his attitude. I love his commitment to the side. On his playing side, I think he can get up and down all day. He’s got quality, he’s popped up with a goal, and he defends better than most people give him credit for.
“He could definitely play Champions League. Look at Tino Livramento at Newcastle, I think he’s a carbon copy of him. I don’t want Neco to go but he can play Champions League football definitely.”
Williams has grown as a player at the City Ground and over the past four years at the football club, he’s improved with each passing year.
The Welshman is on course for the Player of the Year accolade but that will be at the back of his mind, with the Reds’ Premier League status likely to prove more important.
Williams could chip in with more goals and after proving he’s got a sweet strike on him, Vitor Pereira might be looking at his defender to weigh in with a few more in the coming weeks.
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