Defensively, this is Nottingham Forest’s best start to a season since 1980 when they were champions of Europe.
Just six goals conceded in the Premier League – only Liverpool have let in fewer – has been the foundation of a promising opening eight games before Friday’s match at Leicester. Nikola Milenkovic’s influence, after his £12m move from Fiorentina, has been crucial while Matz Sels is firmly established as number one.
Forest had three goalkeepers last term, Matt Turner, Odysseas Vlachodimos and Sels after his January arrival. Only the Belgium international is still at the club after Turner’s loan move to Crystal Palace and Vlachodimos’ transfer to Newcastle and he remains cautious of talking up Forest this season.
“We can compare our statistics to 1980 but – I know it’s a cliche – we need to look at it week by week and try to get to 40 points as quickly as possible,” Sels said. “Only then, can we maybe set our objectives higher.
“It’s difficult when you don’t take points at the beginning of the season – you start to play with pressure in every game.
“That’s why it was so important for our confidence that we were playing well and picking up points from our first games at the start of the season. Now we are trying to continue this way.”
