Steve Cooper addressed a number of topics ahead of Forest’s trip to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace on Saturday evening.
Cooper then looked ahead to an action-packed weekend, with Forest fan Leigh Wood taking on Josh Warrington on Saturday night and Forest Women hosting Derby County at The City Ground on Sunday
“It’s something that we needed to improve and it’s still early days.
“When we got to the latter stages of last season, goal difference was completely out of our favour and that was our own doing.
“We conceded too many goals, so if the trend at the moment is that we’re not conceding too many then that’s a positive, but it’s only a positive if you keep that going.
“To keep clean sheets and to minimise opponents to not many chances is a hard thing to do and it’s built on determination and desire from the goalkeeper all the way to the guys at the top of the pitch.
“There have been some really good signs in parts of our game and we really want to try and build on that and improve.”
“I thought as a debut goes he was excellent overall.
“Like I’ve said on many occasions, we learnt quickly last year that whatever players have done in their past, there’s always an adaptation period when you come to the Premier League for the first time, but the best way to adapt is to play games and against Brentford we felt like there was an opportunity for him.
“He’s really impressed us in training, he’s a really young player, so to do the good things he did is promising, but it’s only one game and if he gets an opportunity again then hopefully he can build on last week and keep going.
“He’s got a great attitude to training, a great attitude to learning, he’s settled in quickly which is a good thing considering where he’s come from and his age.
“He’s got a few companions in Danilo and a great role model in Felipe, he’s got a nice network around him and we’re really enjoying our work with him. There’s no doubt he’s an exciting talent and we really hope we can help him develop to be the best he can be.”
“Selhurst Park is a really tough place to go with the atmosphere that’s created there and the players they have.
“I have so much respect for Roy Hodgson who I obviously met for the first time last season.
“Similar to Brentford, they have players who have been there a long time who know each other and players who can make a difference.
“We’ve got to be right on it to make sure we do whatever we can to minimise them.”
On injuries…
“Nico obviously came off in the Brentford game with a hamstring problem and Yatesy has also been nursing a niggling hamstring for a few weeks.
“We’ll see with the regards to the weekend, but whatever we decide we go with, we’ll be ready as we can be and commit to the game as best we can.
“Danilo is a bit more long-term, it’s still going to be a little while until he’s back with the group, he’s out on the grass but very much in the middle of his rehab.
“I don’t think we’ll see Nuno until after the international break, and on Ola we will see.”
“I speak to Leigh a lot and it will be a great fight with the two fighters coming from where they come from – two passionate cities with two passionate football clubs.
“We, as always, wish him well and are right behind him. He knows he’s got the football club and the city behind him and I’m sure now he’s focused on getting the job done.
“It’s brilliant to know him because I know the work he does and the processes he goes through to be the champion he is.”
“It will be a great game at the weekend and one I’m sure the women’s team are ready for.
“Let’s hope we can all get some good results at the weekend.”
“It’s something that we needed to improve and it’s still early days.
“When we got to the latter stages of last season, goal difference was completely out of our favour and that was our own doing.
“We conceded too many goals, so if the trend at the moment is that we’re not conceding too many then that’s a positive, but it’s only a positive if you keep that going.
“To keep clean sheets and to minimise opponents to not many chances is a hard thing to do and it’s built on determination and desire from the goalkeeper all the way to the guys at the top of the pitch.
“There have been some really good signs in parts of our game and we really want to try and build on that and improve.”
“I thought as a debut goes he was excellent overall.
“Like I’ve said on many occasions, we learnt quickly last year that whatever players have done in their past, there’s always an adaptation period when you come to the Premier League for the first time, but the best way to adapt is to play games and against Brentford we felt like there was an opportunity for him.
“He’s really impressed us in training, he’s a really young player, so to do the good things he did is promising, but it’s only one game and if he gets an opportunity again then hopefully he can build on last week and keep going.
“He’s got a great attitude to training, a great attitude to learning, he’s settled in quickly which is a good thing considering where he’s come from and his age.
“He’s got a few companions in Danilo and a great role model in Felipe, he’s got a nice network around him and we’re really enjoying our work with him. There’s no doubt he’s an exciting talent and we really hope we can help him develop to be the best he can be.”
“Selhurst Park is a really tough place to go with the atmosphere that’s created there and the players they have.
“I have so much respect for Roy Hodgson who I obviously met for the first time last season.
“Similar to Brentford, they have players who have been there a long time who know each other and players who can make a difference.
“We’ve got to be right on it to make sure we do whatever we can to minimise them.”
“Nico obviously came off in the Brentford game with a hamstring problem and Yatesy has also been nursing a niggling hamstring for a few weeks.
“We’ll see with the regards to the weekend, but whatever we decide we go with, we’ll be ready as we can be and commit to the game as best we can.
“Danilo is a bit more long-term, it’s still going to be a little while until he’s back with the group, he’s out on the grass but very much in the middle of his rehab.
“I don’t think we’ll see Nuno until after the international break, and on Ola we will see.”
“I speak to Leigh a lot and it will be a great fight with the two fighters coming from where they come from – two passionate cities with two passionate football clubs.
“We, as always, wish him well and are right behind him. He knows he’s got the football club and the city behind him and I’m sure now he’s focused on getting the job done.
“It’s brilliant to know him because I know the work he does and the processes he goes through to be the champion he is.”
“It will be a great game at the weekend and one I’m sure the women’s team are ready for.
“Let’s hope we can all get some good results at the weekend.”