Fantastic, Proved us all wrong” – Gary Neville praises Steve Cooper and Nott Forest star after reds avoid relegation as he admits he was wrong about relegation prediction
Gary Neville has hailed Nottingham Forest star Taiwo Awoniyi live on air after the Reds defeated Arsenal 1-0 at the City Ground.
Forest can now breathe a huge sigh of relief. They have secured their Premier League status with a game to spare and go to Crystal Palace next weekend in their flip-flops!
Awoniyi has sparkled at just the right time. He’s scored five times in his last three appearances to fire Forest to safety. The 25-year-old was the club’s first signing after reaching the Premier League, with the player costing £17 million from Union Berlin.
He has taken some time to settle in England but now he will go down as one of the men who helped keep Forest in the Premier League.
His goal on Saturday saw him produce a lovely finish after some good work from Morgan Gibbs-White and the Sky Sports pundit was impressed.
Neville said live on Monday Night Football: “It’s absolutely incredible. I’ve had them down for weeks. Saturday was a magical day and the goal epitomises what they’re about.
“His run is fantastic, there was still a lot to do. Steve Cooper has proved us all wrong.”
The man who served Manchester United with distinction has been forced to sample a large slice of humble pie.
He’s hardly had a positive word to say about Forest all season; judging them on the two games against Manchester United which he covered. Forest have come good at the right time. In Awoniyi they’ve had a player who has rolled up his sleeves and improved his form perfectly.
The Reds can now look forward to the summer. It promises to be another hectic one, with plenty of players likely to leave the club.
Awoniyi will grow from the experience of this season, however, and he looks like being a big player for the club going forward.
