Nottingham Forest

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche has been speaking to the media before Monday's Premier League game against Fulham at Craven Cottage (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Chris Wood is "still on the grass recovering" from his knee injury and "isn't in first-team training" just yet. Dyche was reluctant to put a timeline on the striker's return.

• Ola Aina is "halfway through" his pathway back to full fitness. The defender is "training more regularly with the team" but the club are being "careful" as he continues his recovery from a long-term injury.

• On other team news: "So everyone is pretty much back on the grass. Pure match fitness is obviously difficult because we can only play so many games, but the players are getting there. There's certainly a good training group now and a lot of demand within the group, which is good."

• The group will take a "one-game-at-a-time" approach as they head into three games in nine days across the festive period. He explained: "The next match is always the most important for me. We've had to do some sort of planning, though, because of our game schedule."

• He is anticipating "another tough game" against Fulham, who have had "a quieter start to the season than previously". He said: "They are missing some key players through Afcon, but they are still a good outfit. There are no easy games in the Premier League. It is a very unforgiving league and you've got to be right all the time."

• Dyche also said Marco Silva "knows his way around the division" after managing a total of four different clubs in the Premier League since January 2017.

• On the challenges of playing on Monday night: "It has been a good change, if I'm honest. All we've been doing since I've been here is playing so it has been good to have a few extra days this week, especially with the travel and game schedule."

• He is pleased that his side have registered three clean sheets in their past five games to move out of the relegation zone, but said: "It has been a case of 'so far so good', but it is just a 'so far' and there is still a lot of work to be done. I keep reminding the players about that."

• Asked about his standout moment of 2025, Dyche reflected he has experienced "the sliding doors of football" after being sacked by Everton in January and being appointed head coach of his boyhood club Nottingham Forest in October.

• He added: "This job was more important to me for the obvious reason of my past. I've enjoyed every moment of it so far and I want that to continue. The best way of doing that is to continue playing well and working hard for the wins."

• Dyche said that Christmas "comes and goes pretty quickly" in the Dyche-household: "One of the downsides of this job is that Christmas is a working period - and it always has been for me after being in football since I was 16."

Hear more from Dyche on BBC Sounds

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Wood is still waiting to discover when he will return for Nottingham Forest.

The striker has been sidelined with a knee injury for two months and is yet to play for boss Sean Dyche this season.

His last appearance came in Ange Postecoglou's final game, a 3-0 defeat by Chelsea on 18 October and he has scored only one goal so far this season.

Speaking at Forest's visit to the Children's Ward at Queen's Medical Centre, Wood said: "It's one of those - it's been a frustrating one because there's been no timeframe put on it.

"It's one to take week by week and stage by stage. Every stage I'm getting closer and better but it's also a stage I'm getting through and back to return to play.

"It hasn't progressed as quick as we wanted to. There's no end goal or date but it's getting closer. I want to be out there helping the team and the club because we want to be pushing up the table.

"The team under the new manager has been doing well, got some important wins and the team is in a good place. Now we're ready to kick on and do more."

Now 34, Wood played under Dyche for five years at Burnley and is eager to return to fitness so he can featured for the Forest boss again.

The New Zealand international added: "He knows me very well and I know him and how he works. Hopefully when I can get onto the training pitch with him and the coaching staff, who I know well, it'll be fruitful for all of us."

Pat Riddell
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Back in the summer of 2023, Ibrahim Sangare arrived to great fanfare as Nottingham Forest's record £30m signing and a statement for the season ahead.

The Ivorian midfielder was seen as a player who could transform Steve Cooper's squad - an elite number six who could dictate play from deep, breaking up opposition attacks and releasing attacking players from turnovers.

Sadly, Sangare struggled to adapt in his first few months and then contracted malaria on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, and had a groin issue to compound matters. With just 13 appearances in the 2023-24 campaign, a hamstring issue limited him to just seven appearances last season.

But his talent was evident, even if he hadn't quite found his feet in English football.

This season, he has been paired with the ever-impressive Elliot Anderson in midfield. Sunday's man-of-the-match performance - probably shared with Callum Hudson-Odoi - showed exactly what we have waited for all this time.

Tottenham Hotspur were a shadow of themselves but that should not discredit a dominant Forest, who put on one of their best performances since returning to the Premier League. And Sangare, with two assists for Hudson-Odoi and his own wonder goal, was at the heart of everything.

Winning possession, driving the team forward and almost scoring within the first 10 minutes, the 28-year-old displayed all the reasons why some of the top clubs in Europe were tracking him just a few years ago - and why Forest will miss him as he now departs for Afcon with the Ivory Coast again.

If the holders progress to the final again, Sangare could miss six league games - back in time for the remaining Europa League games before the knockout stage. We can only hope Forest's squad copes and the player we have waited all this time for continues his run of form.

Find more from Pat Riddell at The Famous Club, external

Former England forward Theo Walcott says Sean Dyche has turned Nottingham Forest into a potent attacking side by "playing to the players' strengths".

Against Tottenham on Sunday, Callum Hudson-Odoi scored twice before Ibrahim Sangare sealed a 3-0 victory.

"Dyche plays to players' strengths," Walcott said on Match of the Day. "They are getting numbers forward, picking up spaces and complementing each other."

Watch on BBC iPlayer

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham.

Here are some of your comments:

Forest fans

Sean: The starting line-up looked very promising and it didn't disappoint. Great to see Callum Hudson-Odoi get back on the scoresheet and another for Ibrahim Sangare is a great reward for the hard work he puts in. Plus a Premier League clean sheet for John Victor is going to boost his confidence. Great team effort after a gruelling midweek game in Europe.

John: A victory for proper skillful football over questionable officials' decisions and an opposition whose tactics, such as they were, were negative and provocative. Forest were disciplined and outstanding. They didn't allow Spurs to play, and looked like a squad on the up.

Ben: A very satisfying performance with an excellent mix of quality and game management. Defensively, Forest were excellent and this performance goes to show what they are capable of when they take their chances at the other end. Forest are undergoing a steady rebuild after the early season tumult and they are reaping the rewards of playing sensible football. Long may it continue!

Tino: To a man, we were miles better than Spurs. Won our duels and second balls and looked sharp and balanced. Really impressed with Sangare who has come into his own under Dyche. We will miss him when he goes to Afcon.

Spurs fans

Leonard: A team that seems clueless in strategies with players who are not synced with each other. Thomas Frank is sadly not showing signs of being able to plan tactics and plays that get the best out these players. He gets his team selection wrong most times.

Robin: This isn't about Frank. It's about a group of players who can't seem to do the simple things right, apply the required effort and demonstrate any consistency. Our club has allowed too many coaches to be scapegoated, after poor hiring and recruitment, but ultimately the persistent failure lays with many of the players themselves. The fact they decided to have a meeting following the fans showing their anger rather than regularly meeting to break down their own poor performances speaks volumes about these grifters who too often are stealing a living!

Tony: Absolutely awful Frank must bear responsibility - no leadership on or off the field, ridiculous tactics, playing out of the back, lack of commitment and a worse squad than last year.

Dan: Guglielmo Vicario has to be dropped now. Enough is enough! You are only as good as your keeper. He isn't the only weak link in the team, but he's definitely the worst of the lot. Equally the team as a whole are lazy and have no drive. Time clubs docked a week's wages when the players don't give it their all. At the end of the day, if you didn't perform and do your job properly in any normal job you'd get sacked.

Pundits Joe Hart and Theo Walcott and Joe Hart join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Sunderland 1-0 Newcastle

• Crystal Palace 0-3 Manchester City

• Brentford 1-1 Leeds

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest showed last week's awful defeat at Everton can be viewed as a blip - so to the loss to Brighton late last month.

They reacted well to both, with this week bringing a first European away win in 30 years at Utrecht and Sunday's dominant win over Spurs.

There was fortune in the way Guglielmo Vicario's mistakes allowed Callum Hudson-Odoi to score twice but that should not disguise the overall excellent performance from the hosts.

Forest have lost just three times since Sean Dyche took over in October, recovering each time, and victory moved them five points above the relegation zone.

They had earlier dropped into it when West Ham led Aston Villa - before losing 3-2 - which proves there can be no let-up.

Forest could have been lulled into a false sense of security given how well Dyche has stabled the ship - a 3-0 win at Liverpool the highlight - following the chaotic start under Nuno Espirito Santo and the brief reign of Ange Postecoglou.

They still remain in trouble but displays of similar quality and commitment will surely see them move further clear of the bottom three.

Listen to Callum Hudson-Odoi's interview on BBC Sounds

Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche to BBC Match of the Day: "Very pleased, the work the players have been putting in has been fantastic. I thought the football today was a really good mix. We know they have talent but the glue that held us together was the work ethic.

"It's choosing when to press. It's the football intelligence to see a bad ball and when someone is under pressure. Seeing it and activating it is something these lads are improving at."

On Callum Hudson-Odoi's second goal: "It's a cross, ain't it? He does do that all the time, we'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

"I'm delighted today.

"[Ibrahim Sangare] He's enjoying his football I think. I thought he was excellent. Elliot [Anderson] was also excellent today. We know he can play but he was terrific today doing all the things that managers notice. The nuts and bolts I call them.

"It's not just one player. Massive credit to the players the way they're absorbing what we're trying to do and activating it.

"There's still work to do but it's a much better league table. But it's got to continue, of course."

Did you know?

• After losing each of their prior six in succession, Nottingham Forest have now won each of their last three Premier League games against Tottenham. Since the start of last season, Spurs are the only side that Forest have beaten three times in the league.

Listen to Dyche on BBC Sounds

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Nottingham Forest's performance

What did you make of Tottenham's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Goalkeeper John Victor makes his Premier League debut for Nottingham Forest.

He keeps his place from the Europa League win at Utrecht with Matz Sels out with a groin injury but Sean Dyche makes eight changes from Thursday's victory.

Nicolo Savona, Nikola Milenkovic and Neco Williams return along with Igor Jesus, Ibrahim Sangare, Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson and Omari Hutchinson.

Nottingham Forest XI: John, Savona, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams, Sangare, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Hutchinson, I. Jesus.

Subs: Gunn; Morato, Douglas Luiz, Ndoye, Kalimuendo, McAtee, Bakwa, Zinchenko, Abbott.

Thomas Frank makes two changes to the Tottenham side from the Champions League victory against Slavia Prague.

Rodrigo Bentancur and Randal Kolo Muani replace Joao Palhinha and Wilson Odobert, who are on the bench.

Brennan Johnson returns to the bench after missing the mid-week win.

Tottenham XI: Vicario, Spence, Gray, Romero, Porro, Van de Ven, Bentancur, Kolo Muani, Kudus, Xavi, Richarlison

Subs: Kisnky, Danso, Davies, Bergvall, Sarr, Palhinha, Johnson, Odobert, Tel.

There are five games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will be bringing you every moment.

• Crystal Palace v Manchester City - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Nottingham Forest v Tottenham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Sunderland v Newcastle United - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• West Ham United v Aston Villa - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3

• Brentford v Leeds United (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 14:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Crystal Palace v Man City" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Sunderland v Newcastle", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Nottingham Forest's Europa League campaign is a problem for their boss Sean Dyche, because it is a distraction from their relegation fight.

Of course Forest want to do well in Europe but if you asked Dyche what his priority is then it has to be climbing the table.

As for Tottenham, I still don't know what we are going to get from them.

Yes, they have won back-to-back home games against Brentford and Slavia Prague but that doesn't mean they have turned the corner.

A lot depends on what kind of team Dyche puts out on Thursday against Utrecht but if he focuses mostly on Spurs then I can see this being a very tight game.

I have already gone for a lot of draws this week, but this is another one where I don't feel confident backing either team to win it.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Jordan Butler
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest seek to move further from the relegation places when they host Spurs at the City Ground on Sunday. BBC Sport explores some of the key talking points around this game.

Forest's 2-1 victory at Utrecht on Thursday was their first away win in a major European competition for 30 years.

The display was an improvement from the inferior showing at Everton last weekend, during which Forest shipped three Premier League goals without reply for the fourth time this season.

"We were nowhere near it on the physical side," admitted Sean Dyche after the 3-0 loss on Merseyside. "We were trying to come here to play, but we didn't start well. The players deserve a lot of credit, but they have to fight and play to their shape. We were well short of that."

Anderson is key

Elliot Anderson was one of the few players to emerge with any credit from the previous Premier League outing. The England midfielder had the most touches of any player with 94, completed the joint most passes with 60 and won 12 duels – two more than anyone else.

Anderson's importance to this Forest team is well documented and no other Premier League midfielder has contributed more line-breaking passes in the opponent's half this season than the 23-year old.

Forest completed the Premier League double over Spurs last season but Dyche has a poor record against the Lilywhites. The 54-year-old has won two of his 17 Premier League clashes with the north London club, drawing five and losing 10, with his last victory back in February 2022 while in charge of Burnley.

Frank finding solutions

Tottenham travel to the East Midlands seeking to win three successive games for the first time under Thomas Frank. The pressure had been mounting on the 52-year-old head coach after a series of limp London derby performances, but it appears one of the solutions to his side's problems was right under his nose.

Gray matters

The appearance of Archie Gray in central midfield has coincided with back-to-back home victories for Spurs and the 19-year-old is staking a serious claim to be part of Frank's starting XI going forward.

The teenager was comparable to a Swiss army knife under Ange Postecoglou last term and he was used in a multitude of positions, with centre-back and right-back his most common.

This season, he has predominantly played in his favoured midfield birth and seems, for now, to be the missing link between defence and attack.

Almost 6% of Gray's successful Premier League passes in this campaign have been progressive, with Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur both behind on 4.2%. He also helps drag the team up the pitch and produces 6.8 progressive carries per 90 minutes – something Opta classifies as moving with the ball at least five metres towards the opposition's goal – which is more than any other Spurs central midfielder.

Frank has conceded that he still doesn't know his best Tottenham team and the Dane has made 42 changes to his starting XI this season. Only Chelsea, with 46, have made more. Rotation is to be expected with the club's European commitments but it would be a surprise not to see Gray feature heavily during the festive period.

Melissa Edwards
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Tottenham at the City Ground (kick-off 14:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Ryan Yates is likely to be out for the rest of the year with his hamstring injury as Dyche "doubts" the midfielder will be seen until January.

• Murillo, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Douglas Luiz all returned from injury to feature against Utrecht in the Europa League on Thursday and Dyche said it was "nice" to see some experienced players back to full fitness.

• The boss is expecting the same personnel available to face Spurs: "We've asked a lot of the players there but we've had no adverse reactions so far and it's important we keep that squad together. It's nice to have some very important players looking fit. Some still a bit short but they're getting there. It's nice seeing some of these faces who are very good players coming back to full fitness and on the bench or starting of course."

• Ibrahim Sangare has "earned his place back in the side" but his absence for the Africa Cup of Nations from next week will provide another "challenge".

• Meanwhile, Dyche explained why Ola Aina will not be joining up with the Nigeria squad despite requests from the country's FA: "It's just that he's not fit - he hasn't been fit and he's still not fit. He hasn't played any football yet. So, that's all we can offer to that situation. We've made that very clear."

• Dyche defended James McAtee for his slow start to life at Forest, and said the 23-year-old is "still learning" but is "wise enough" to take on advice.

• On Tottenham: "Their home form has been heavily questioned but their away form hasn't because they've been strong. They've got some very good individual players and Thomas [Frank] is a wily fox in the Premier League now after years at Brentford. A new challenge for him and a new challenge for me. Different circumstances I think."

• He is not underestimating the difficulties Spurs will pose but backed Forest to cope: "I've read about some of the players they've brought in - they've spent a heck of a lot of money so it's a big challenge. I think we're in good shape and we're at the City Ground and that's a big factor. We take this game on gladly and I want us to perform. Anything I think of Thomas as a bloke goes out the window for those 90-odd minutes and he knows that."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to full commentary of Nottingham Forest v Tottenham from 14:00 GMT on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Nottingham Forest's Europa League match against Utrecht on Thursday.

Here are some of your comments:

James: Sean Dyche has turned this team around. Under Postecoglou we were looking lucky to make the play-offs. Igor Jesus is such a good player and will be putting plenty of pressure on Chris Wood when he returns.

Sean: Not the prettiest game of football but we ground out a win away from home in Europe. We have a really good chance of making some knockout football too. Good to see Douglas Luiz, Murillo and Oleksandr Zinchenko back, and Dilane Bakwa on the bench. Positive steps.

Ben: Forest are making an unhappy habit of wasting chances and making life difficult for themselves. Thankfully they dug themselves out of this little hole and it's fantastic for them to finally get that European away win. If they start converting the wealth of chances they create early in games, they could be a force to be reckoned with.

Kris: Hard to say this was a 'bad' win, but it did highlight the lack of quality in our reserve players. James McAtee looked lightweight and disinterested and Nicolas Dominguez, while a willing runner, lacks any end product. All said, we were the better team overall and just about deserved our win.

Reda: It should have been an easy win, especially the way we played in the first half. Win in Europe not to be taken lightly, but the gaffer needs to figure out what's going on with the team. A lot of individual talent, but...

Paul: A win is a win but my word we look dreadful going forward and vulnerable at the back. Too many players simply not being committed enough.

Image source, Getty Images

Igor Jesus' anime-inspired celebration is becoming a familiar sight in Europe.

A fan of Dragon Ball Z since childhood, Nottingham Forest's Brazilian forward celebrates his goals by mimicking the powerful energy blast used by the character Goku in the Japanese adventure series.

He got to show it off after just 82 seconds on the pitch in Forest's Europa League game at Utrecht on Thursday, as the substitute's late goal sealed a 2-1 win.

That was his fourth goal in Europe for Forest and seventh in all competitions, and the 24-year-old is determined to keep his impressive run going.

"It was very nice to score after one minute in the game," Igor Jesus told BBC Radio Nottingham afterwards.

"When I was [on the bench] I was just thinking of the game and when the coach puts me in the game I give my best.

"I want to continue like this."

Read more on a key Forest win

Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche, speaking to TNT Sports: "We should have scored in the early part of the game. I thought we were very dominant. But overall, the result was valid for our performance.

"They are all important games; this is an important competition. We've got to get back to the Premier League now because we still have a lot of work to do in that, and that's also very important for us."

Winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, speaking to TNT Sports: "I wanted the goal, but it's not always about scoring, it's about helping the team as well, going forward and defensively as well. I'm delighted with that and I'm happy I can contribute a little bit to the second goal and the first as well. We keep going and keep pushing.

On ending goal draught: "I keep saying to myself that it's going to come, and hopefully when they come, it keeps flowing nicely. I'm just enjoying football, playing football. Hopefully the goals will come soon, just got to keep working hard and keep doing the right things, and it'll come."

Did you know?

• Nottingham Forest have picked up their first away win in a major European competition since beating Auxerre in the UEFA Cup back in October 1995.

• Igor Jesus netted Nottingham Forest's winner just 1 minute and 20 seconds after entering the pitch, making it the fastest goal scored by a substitute in the UEFA Europa League since Tomás Chory's strike for Slavia Prague vs Malmö FF back in January (28 seconds). He's now the Tricky Trees' top scorer this season with seven goals across all competitions.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Get in touch with your views here

Come back to this page on Friday to find a selection of your replies

Utrecht make three changes for this game. Mike Eerdhuijzen and Matisse Didden start in the centre of defence, while ex-West Ham striker Sebastian Haller leads the attack.

Utrecht XI: Barkas; Horemans, Didden, Eerdhuijzen, El Karouani; Engwanda, Zechiel, De Wit; Miguel Rodríguez, Haller, Cathline.

Subs: Brouwer, Eversen, Van der Hoorn, Finnsson, Bozdoğan, Iqbal, Blake, Viergever, Jonathans, El Arguioui, Van Ommeren

Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest have made nine changes. Murillo, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Douglas Luiz have returned from injury, while there are starts for John Victor, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Arnaud Kalimuendo, Nicolás Domínguez, James McAtee and Zach Abbott.

Nottingham Forest XI: John; Abbott, Morato, Murillo, Zinchenko, Douglas Luiz, Domínguez, McAtee, Ndoye, Hudson-Odoi, Kalimuendo.

Subs: Bott, Willows, Williams, Sangaré, Anderson, Gibbs-White, I. Jesus, Bakwa, Boly, Savona.

There are 36 games in the Europa League and Europa Conference League on Thursday, including three involving Premier League teams, and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

Three English teams are playing:

• Europa League: Utrecht v Nottingham Forest (17:45)

• Europa League: Basel v Aston Villa

• Conference League: Shelbourne v Crystal Palace

Kick-off times 20:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here