Nottingham Forest reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League by beating FC Midtjylland on penalties
Nottingham Forest celebrating reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League after beating FC Midtjylland(Image: Getty)
As jubilant songs about Istanbul and going to Turkey twice reverberated around an empty MCH Arena, Ryan Yates emerged from the tunnel to give one more salute to the Nottingham Forest fans.
The Reds had already gathered as one to celebrate in front of the 600-strong away end, but the skipper couldn’t resist another moment. And why not, he had been at the heart of a quite incredible comeback against FC Midtjylland.
Yates raised his arms aloft and pumped his fists, receiving a mighty roar in response. Those supporters were going nowhere, determined to soak up every last second of a truly epic evening and the knowledge this European adventure is not over with yet.
The Forest dressing room was equally as raucous, if the booming beats that could be heard as head coach Vitor Pereira conducted his post-match interviews were anything to go by. A return to Istanbul – scene of the destruction of Fenerbahce in the play-offs – for the final is still some way off, but Thursday night in Denmark was one for the ages.
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Into the quarter-finals of the Europa League, who saw that coming?! A goal down from the first leg, the Reds triumphed 2-1 on the night then came through 3-0 in the penalty shootout to book a meeting with Porto in the last eight. Below, Nottinghamshire Live looks at some of the big talking points from a memorable match in Denmark.
Believe and achieve
Pereira said Forest used Midtjylland’s celebrations at the City Ground the previous week as “fuel”. He felt the Danish side had gone too big, too early with their reactions – after all, the tie was not won at that point.
And didn’t the hosts know it. The Reds came charging out the blocks when the second leg got under way. They dominated the first half and should have secured progress to the next round by half-time, such was the number of chances they created.
Goals have been a problem all season, of course. But Pereira said he had sent his team out with the message to simply enjoy the game.
The Portuguese believed they could do it – even if his weakened team suggested otherwise – and there was a confidence about Forest’s play. They thoroughly deserved to go through and should take a massive amount of encouragement for the road ahead, both domestically and internationally.
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Leading by example
Most of the Reds’ big-hitters started on the bench in Denmark. Pereira picked an XI with Sunday’s huge Premier League clash away to Tottenham Hotspur in mind. He did not want to take any risks.
But in Yates he had a captain clearly ready to do everything and anything to drag the club through. The midfielder set the standard and was a driving force.
His goal was a stunner. Nicolas Dominguez’s header was too, and provided Forest’s first goal in 235 minutes of football in all competitions, but Yates’ was special.
Already denied by the crossbar in the first half, he doubled the visitors’ lead with a cracker with his left foot from the edge of the D. It would have been entirely justified had he got a second right at the end of extra-time but VAR spoiled that particular party.
Second XI impress
Pereira had made nine changes to his line-up. He explained: “I did what I must do.”
Plenty of those who started hadn’t exactly pulled up any trees when handed opportunities previously. But they did this time.
To a man, in the first half Forest were fantastic. If anything, when key figures were called upon from off the bench it completely changed the dynamic – and not in an especially positive way.
James McAtee and Dilane Bakwa, in particular, gave really good accounts of themselves, where previously they have struggled. Lorenzo Lucca, too, did his bit.
Forest are going to need everybody as they continue to tread the fine line of competing on two fronts. Some of those given chances on Thursday might have their work cut out to earn starting spots in the league, but they showed they can have a part to play in the remainder of the season.
Into the last eight
And so to the quarter-finals. This win came 30 years to the day since the Reds’ last European quarter-final appearance, when they were knocked out of the UEFA Cup by Bayern Munich.
Need a positive omen? The last time Forest progressed in a continental competition after going into the second leg of a knockout tie trailing, they went all the way.
On that occasion, in 1979/80, they saw off BFC Dynamo. And everyone knows what happened that year.
Of course, the elephant in the room remains the club’s battle for Premier survival. All eyes are on Sunday and a showdown in the capital for that.
But for now it is all about a magical, memorable evening in Denmark. And what a night it was!
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