By Gareth James
Wales striker Brennan Johnson underlined his rich talent once more with the goal that enabled Nottingham Forest to earn a priceless victory over Leeds United.
The 21-year-old scored his seventh goal of the season at the City Ground as Steve Cooper’s side moved further away from the Premier League relegation zone.
The Welsh manager insisted his players deserved their victory over free-falling Leeds, even though Forest were not at their best.
WHAT A GOAL! 🔥
Brennan Johnson gives Forest the lead with a brilliant strike 🚀 pic.twitter.com/KW8Ibk8WZG
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 5, 2023
“The purist in me is disappointed with our football today, if I’m being honest. We can play better than that,” Cooper told Sky Sports.
“The first half was not a good version of ourselves. The second, defensively I thought we were excellent.
“We didn’t play so great with the ball and at times the game didn’t really need that. The outcome is the most important thing, but my job is to look deeper than that and work out how to get better.
“It’s probably the first time we’ve not played well and got something. We’ve played better and lost games this year. So weirdly, the lads deserved that today for the first time.
“We’re on a good run, it takes all sorts to be on a good run.
Steve Cooper’s reaction to today’s victory at The City Ground. 🎙
— Nottingham Forest FC (@NFFC) February 5, 2023
Johnson’s 14 th minute goal has enabled Forest to climb to 13th in the table – six points clear of the bottom three.
Goalkeeper Keylor Navas immediately showed his class on his Forest debut.
The three-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid was part of Forest’s recruitment drive in January, making a loan switch from Paris St Germain, and he produced a string of saves in the first half to keep Leeds at bay.
He had already saved from Luis Sinisterra by the time Johnson’s 14th-minute goal put Forest ahead and then he kept out Luke Ayling and Willy Gnonto to ensure the three points.
The win is massive for Forest in their bid to move clear of the bottom three and they are now six points above 18th-placed Everton and may now begin to look up rather than down after strengthening their squad last month.
A clean sheet and three points on his debut! 🙌
Keylor Navas is your #NFFC Player of the Match! ✨ pic.twitter.com/KteKJ6TZFy
— Nottingham Forest FC (@NFFC) February 5, 2023
Leeds are definitely looking over their shoulders as after a seventh game without a win they are out of the bottom three on goal difference alone, with two games against Manchester United coming up in the next seven days.
They will live to regret coming up against Navas in this form as they squandered good chances in the first half, but could not find that cutting edge in the second half.
Forest travel to Fulham next up on February 11; kick-off 3pm. They then host champions Manchester City at the City Ground on February 18; kick-off 3pm.
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