Nottinghamshire

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  1. 'A very hard game for us' - Nunopublished at 23:31 1 April

    Nuno Espirito Santo celebrates win with Anthony ElangaImage source, Getty Images

    Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo, speaking to TNT Sports: "Suffer, hard work, believe, helping each other, clearance on the line. It was a very hard game for us."

    On Anthony Elanga's goal: "He's a special boy and he gives this team his speed. He does it by himself and we are delighted."

    On captain Ryan Yates: "He is a special player for us, club captain and he is heart of the team."

    On making two first-half substitutes: "Look, I think the game was going away from us, we were not able to control and United were given too many situations.

    "We decided on the injury [to Ola Aina] to go to a back five and Morato could give a hand. That was the reason behind it."

    On Ola Aina's injury: "We don't know. Hopefully, it is not too serious."

    On doing the double over Manchester United: "The records, the boys are breaking all of them and today the City Ground was part of the game. We were against the ropes. The City ground helps us."

    On the Champions League: "Let's focus on the next one. It is day-by-day."

  2. 'I believe I'm one of the fastest players in the league' - Elangapublished at 23:21 1 April

    Anthony Elanga runs with the ball before scoringImage source, Getty Images

    Nottingham Forest goalscorer Anthony Elanga, speaking to TNT Sports: "It is about attacking the space and getting to the opposite goal as quick as I can. I saw the space and I believe I'm one of the fastest players in the league.

    "The finish is something I have been trying to work on. Left foot or right foot, I am quite comfortable with both feet this season.

    "All you want to do is keep on improving, coming here is about playing and developing. I appreciate Manchester United so much as I learned a lot there. I am enjoying my football and I want to keep on going.

    "We have one of the lowest possession in the league, but it has been effective and it is something we have worked on since pre-season. Murillo's block means more than a goal, seeing it on the bench I was like 'wow'.

    On Forest's team spirit: "It started in pre-season, the manager came in December last season and when he came we struggled.

    "He got his ideas across [during pre-season] and we have been able to play different systems. Every player can play any position. That togetherness is important and it says it on the pitch."

  3. 'Special' win for Forest - Yatespublished at 22:48 1 April

    Ryan Yates celebrates winImage source, Getty Images

    Nottingham Forest captain Ryan Yates, speaking to TNT Sports: "Special, after a massive performance.

    "120 minutes the other day - it is unbelievable. The determination, fans were incredible and buzzing to keep the run going.

    "We're having a great season. The past two seasons were about staying up, keeping our head above water, and we have got that momentum at the minute."

    On goalscorer Anthony Elanga: "He is a dream for a midfielder. Especially us sitting in that low-block - you can give him the ball and he does the rest."

    On possibly qualifying for Champions League: "I don't want to say as football is so cruel. We have got the cup to focus on and we have got the league.

    "We are at Villa Park [on] Saturday and they're flying. We take each game as it comes."

  4. Nottingham Forest 1-0 Man Utd: Did you know?published at 22:34 1 April

    Murillo blocks shot on the line from Harry MaguireImage source, Getty Images

    Nottingham Forest have kept 13 clean sheets in the Premier League this season - more than any other side, and their joint-most ever in a campaign in the competition (also 13 in 1994-95).

  5. Follow Tuesday's Premier League games livepublished at 18:58 1 April

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  6. Forest 'don't do things the easy way'published at 13:45 1 April

    Pat Riddell
    Fan writer

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    Ryan Yates scores a penaltyImage source, PA Media

    Nottingham Forest do not do things the easy way.

    Three consecutive penalty shootouts to reach an FA Cup semi-final is par for the course when it comes to this club.

    Our route to the 1991 FA Cup final saw replays with Crystal Palace (two, no less), Newcastle and Southampton before beating Norwich City and West Ham to reach Wembley.

    What happened that day remains a sore point for most Forest fans - Paul Gascoigne escaped punishment for two wild tackles and Brian Clough failed to win the one trophy that eluded him.

    Making things difficult is a habit that is hard to break; securing enough points to avoid relegation last season only to be hit with a four-point PSR punishment, dodging the drop to League One on goal difference in 2017, clinching promotion back to the Championship in 2008 on the final day of the season.

    Even en route to our first European Cup in 1979, Forest conceded three at home to Cologne in the first leg of the semi-final.

    We have talked endlessly about Matz Sels, Ryan Yates, Morgan Gibbs-White and Nikola Milenkovic this season but it is the character of the whole squad, the whole club, that keeps on giving.

    That was all evident in Saturday's win at Brighton. Nuno clearly has a high regard for the FA Cup and perhaps also a sense of unfinished business after his Wolves side lost to Watford in the 2019 semi-final.

    Now set to face Manchester City, Forest's second trip to Wembley in three years harks back to the Clough era when trips down the M1 were a regular occurrence. Playing the Premier League champions and last year's runners-up, despite their toils this season, will of course be a huge occasion for a fanbase starved of success.

    With two big matches this week against Manchester United and Aston Villa, the Reds' season is still very much alive on two fronts. And while it will not be easy, we can only hope Forest do not make it difficult for themselves - there are enough challenges as it is.

    Find more from Pat Riddell at The Famous Club, external

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  7. 'We have done nothing yet' - Milenkovic on season run-inpublished at 11:00 1 April

    Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo celebrateImage source, Getty Images

    Nikola Milenkovic says Nottingham Forest must not get carried away by their current position as they approach the closing stages of what has been a memorable campaign for the club.

    Forest are third in the Premier League with nine games to play and will appear in their first FA Cup semi-final for 34 years later this month, providing chances to qualify for Europe next season for the first time in nearly three decades.

    "It is difficult to imagine we could have been in this position," Serbia defender Milenkovic told BBC Sport chief football news reporter Simon Stone.

    "But this is now our reality. We are so happy to be in this position at this moment.

    "But we need to keep our feet on the ground. We have done nothing yet. We need to keep improving, keep working as a team and keep pushing in the last games."

    Central to Forest's success has been the centre-back partnership between Milenkovic and Murillo.

    Describing his 22-year-old team-mate as a "top player", Milenkovic said: "We understand each other really well. We complement each other really well.

    "Our characteristics are different but that helps us to work better together. The relationship between us is very good.

    "But the defence is all the team. If the rest of the team is defending well, it is easier for the back four and the goalkeeper. It is about the whole team but Murillo is a top player with very big potential - and he will get better."

  8. Has cup football got its magic back this season?published at 08:59 1 April

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    Some 31 of the past 36 FA Cups have been won by one of five teams - but only one of those remains in this season's competition, and that is Manchester City.

    Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea were all knocked out before the quarter-final stage this season and that has opened the door to other clubs to have a chance at getting their hands on the trophy.

    "The cup used to be a lot more democratic and dominance of the cup used to be unthinkable," said New York Times chief football correspondent Rory Smith on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "That is unhealthy and it gets boring.

    "It takes away a lot of the magic because if you go to seven semi-finals in seven years it takes the shine off.

    "But most people don't support those clubs and they support other teams, so Newcastle have been a great advert to why other teams should be going all in for those tournaments."

    Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton added: "Newcastle's win will change the perception of the competitions that have almost felt second in importance to most Premier League teams."

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  9. Sutton's predictions: Nottingham Forest v Man Utdpublished at 08:40 1 April

    Sutton's predictions graphic

    I am concerned how Nottingham Forest will cope without Chris Wood up front if he is out injured. At the moment, it is not clear how serious his problem is.

    Forest made quite a few changes against Brighton in the FA Cup over the weekend, and still got through without 'the Wood-chopper', but they really need him back as soon as possible.

    Speaking as a Forest fan, it is especially annoying that he has picked up this injury while on international duty.

    New Zealand have got an excellent cricket and rugby union team and I wish them every success at football, but do they really need Wood to get through their World Cup qualification campaign against the likes of Fiji and New Caledonia?

    I'd argue they don't need him, and that Wood is better than that. If I was from New Zealand, I'd probably have won about 700 caps, and there are greater priorities for Wood, which are to win the FA Cup and get Forest into next season's Champions League.

    It will be harder for Forest without him, but I still think they can repeat their win at Old Trafford in December.

    Saturday's FA Cup win over Brighton was not exactly a thriller, but as we have seen plenty of times from Forest already this season, they are not here to entertain - they are here to get the job done.

    As for Manchester United, it is a big end to the season for their boss Ruben Amorim.

    Bruno Fernandes has carried them a bit recently in the league, and he is their best hope of getting a positive result here.

    I am not sure either side will be too bothered about having the ball, but Forest fans are happy for them to sit deep and play on the counter, even when they are at home, and they are really good at it.

    Sutton's prediction: 1-0

    Read the full predictions and have your say here

  10. Nottingham Forest v Man Utd: Did you know?published at 07:21 1 April

    Callum Hudson-Odoi in action with Manuel Ugarte and Leny YoroImage source, Getty Images

    Following their 3-2 win at Old Trafford in December, Nottingham Forest are looking to complete their first league double over Manchester United since 1991-92 under Brian Clough.

    After their 3-0 win at Leicester, United are looking to win back-to-back Premier League games this season for the first time, and back-to-back away league games for the first time since winning three in a row in February 2024.

    The Red Devils are one of only three sides yet to win successive Premier League fixtures this season, along with Ipswich and Southampton.