Credit: Imago / Hasan Karim - Breaking Media
Credit: Imago / Hasan Karim - Breaking Media

Chris Wood, Ola Aina react to Espirito Santo announcement at Nottingham Forest

Harri Burton

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior football journalist specialising in refereeing and officiating; former contributor to The Football League Paper, Late Tackle, and the Premier League; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Refereeing controversies, football finance and governance, PGMOL decisions, and officiating analysis across the Premier League, EFL, and SPFL. THE INSIGHT Harri utilises a network of officiating and industry contacts to deliver verified, expert analysis of refereeing decisions and PGMOL policy. He provides the regulatory clarity behind the controversy to ensure fans get the full picture.

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Chris Wood and Ola Aina both reacted to a new announcement concerning their Nottingham Forest manager, Nuno Espirito Santo.

The Reds have lost the aforementioned duo to injury, and despite that, still managed a key 1-0 victory against Man United at The City Ground on Tuesday, 1 April for their sixth consecutive game unbeaten.

Following Chelsea's slim victory over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge, Forest are five points clear of fourth place in the Premier League table and well on their way to Champions League qualification.

Silverware is also on the cards at The City Ground, having set up an FA Cup semi-final clash with Man City at Wembley Stadium, and the Reds' manager has, rightly, earned his flowers.

Nuno Espirito wins another award at The City Ground

Taking to Instagram [4 April], the club wrote: "Nuno Espirito Santo is the Premier League Man of the Month for March," having beaten the likes of Ruben Amorim and Fabian Hurzeler.

Both Wood and Aina liked the post, showing support for their manager, who has kept Forest third in the Premier League table with back-to-back wins over Man City and Ipswich Town.

Nottingham Forest close in on Champions League qualification

Football Insider verdict

Losing Wood to injury has been a massive blow for Forest, but that has not stopped Espirito Santo's side from advancing to the FA Cup semi-finals and bypassing Ruben Amorim's star-studded side.

Callum Hudson-Odoi missed the last match for personal reasons, and it is not entirely clear when he will return, but the squad will definitely be without Alex Moreno, who cannot face his parent club Aston Villa.

The Reds will still be doing absolutely everything to climb further away from the battle for fourth spot, though catching Liverpool and Arsenal will be unlikely in the end-of-season run-in.

Premier League standingsPoints
3. Nottingham Forest57
4. Chelsea52
5. Man City51
6. Newcastle United50

Talking about the Reds in the same sentence as the league's best performers over the last few years just goes to show how much of a good job Espirito Santo has done, and why Forest want him to sign a new contract.

Bringing silverware back to The City Ground would be an incredible achievement for the side, which barely escaped relegation last season, finishing just one place above the dropzone.

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