“They Were Excellent”- Check Out The Outstanding Forrest Players Who Were Crucial In Their Win Against Leicester, Not Chris Wood

In the English Premier League 2024/25 season, Nottingham Forest are making a strong statement in the competition.

Their recent 3-1 victory against Leicester City not only boosted their position in the league but also showed the growing talent in their team.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 26: Chris Wood of Nottingham Forest celebrates after scoring their sides first goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest at St. James Park on December 26, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The match on Friday night showed Forest’s control over their local rivals, although the score may have been much better to Leicester at times.

Steve Cooper, former Forest’s coach, faced a tough game against some of his former players, but his team performed well though ended up losing the game.

Ryan Yates had an outstanding performance in the midfield, scoring a fantastic goal to start the match. However, he later missed a clear chance just a few yards from the goal, which could have added to his impressive form this season.

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 30: Ryan Yates of Nottingham Forrest and Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United at City Ground on December 30, 2023 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Ryan Jenkinson/MB Media/Getty Images)

The 26-year-old has become a key player for Forest, and his improving skills are starting to silence critics who doubted him in the first place.

Chris Wood, who joined the team as a backup, has also been doing well with regular play, now having scored seven goals in nine games so far this season. His efforts were crucial, and he showed why Nuno Santos wanted him in the squad.

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 23: Ryan Yates of Nottingham Forrest during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and AFC Bournemouth at City Ground on December 23, 2023 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Ryan Jenkinson/MB Media/Getty Images)

Notable players, like Murillo, Ola Aina, Nicolas Dominguez, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Anthony Elanga, also stepped up to remind fans of the quality and technical prowess in the team.

Though matches against Leicester may not mean as much to Forest fans as they do to Leicester supporters, but the win was a boost for morale and showed their growing strength in the league.

Troy Deeney, the former Watford striker and now a football pundit, has been watching Forest closely. At first, some fans thought he was being hard on the team, especially after their win against Liverpool in September when he didn’t include any Forest player in his Team of the Week.

But after the Leicester match, Deeney praised Yates, calling him tough and impactful for the team and opponent as well.

Deeney told BBC Sport: “Both midfielders were excellent. They were very combative and did everything simple and well. In times when the game got a little bit tough, they stepped up, whether it be a big tackle or calming the play down and winning fouls. They were excellent and two players who showed their teams needed to win.” His words show that more people are noticing Yates’s contributions for the Garibaldi.

Yates’s journey to this level has been shaped by various loan spells at clubs like Barrow, Notts County, and Scunthorpe.

Now, after more than 200 appearances, he is starting to show the potential many believed he had. But some still question his technical skills, his ability to win headers and control the midfield is obvious.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 26: Chris Wood of Nottingham Forest acknowledges fans following their sides victory after the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest at St. James Park on December 26, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

In the recent game against Leicester, Yates won four headers and had an impressive 81% pass success rate. Such performances make him a pivotal player for Forest, and on another day, he could have easily been named Man of the Match if it weren’t for Wood’s standout and also outscoring the midfielder.

Currently, with Forest sitting comfortably in the league alongside Brighton and Tottenham, there is a strong sense of hope around the club.

At 26, Yates is in a great position to improve even more, and if his recent form continues, he is likely to become one of the key players in Forest’s impressive campaign this season and also push for the teams return to European football after many decades away.

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