Nottingham Forest are out of the Premier League relegation zone and through to the quarter-finals of the Europa League
05:00, 27 Mar 2026Updated 05:44, 27 Mar 2026
Nottingham Forest head coach Vitor Pereira after victory over Tottenham Hotspur(Image: PA)
When an emotional-looking Vitor Pereira conducted a round of fistpumps in the capital last Sunday it was a sign of just how much the mood has changed at Nottingham Forest.
Pessimism has been replaced by optimism. A dark sense of foreboding has changed to a feeling of positivity; even a frisson of excitement as the club prepare for a European quarter-final.
Two wins have changed the landscape for the Reds. Not completely, of course, but they sure have lifted spirits and perhaps even altered outlooks.
Forest climbed to 16th in the Premier League table with their 3-0 triumph over Tottenham Hotspur. They are now three points clear of the relegation zone – not a big gap, admittedly, but significant nonetheless.
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Get all the Nottingham Forest latest via our Facebook page
Prior to that comfortable victory over Spurs, Pereira’s side had staged an incredible comeback to see off FC Midtjylland in the Europa League. A 1-0 deficit was overturned, extra-time was survived and a penalty shootout was won 3-0.
The manner of those two triumphs sets the Reds up nicely for when they return to action after the international break. The rollercoaster ride of this season is poised for a few more thrills and spills through April and into May.
Can Forest tick off achievements on both fronts? Why not?! As unlikely as it might have seemed only a few weeks ago, they now have a bit of wind in their sails and some momentum.
The work Pereira has been doing with the squad, both in terms of mindset and tactics, is already evident. And time on the training ground during the hiatus should only help further.
The Reds are heading in the right direction, but they do still have some way to go. As much as they scored three goals against Spurs and two in Denmark, they will surely be putting in lots of shooting practice over the next week or so. Home form also remains ripe for improvement.
It is certainly not a case of job done for Forest. The big challenge is how they back up those recent results.
First up is a trip to Portugal for the first leg of their quarter-final tie with Porto on April 9. The return meeting will then take place at the City Ground a week later.
England’s 2026 World Cup kits
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Various Prices
England Official Store
Buy Now on England Official Store
England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer’s FIFA World Cup.
The Reds will go into it knowing they are a couple of two-legged ties away from a European final. That is quite the incentive, especially as they have already beaten Porto this season during the league phase of the competition.
Owner Evangelos Marinakis has never been shy about his desire for trophies Trentside. Suddenly, Forest can now smell the possibility of one.
Of course, the balancing act for Pereira is trying to navigate that quest alongside the need to retain the club’s top flight status. The tightrope has proved a very thin one to walk so far, and it is unlikely to get much easier – even if there is now a little bit of breathing space in the league table.
The three-point gap can easily be wiped out if the Reds are not careful, though. They need to use Pereira’s first league win as a springboard to keep picking up points in their remaining seven games.
Having Chris Wood available for some of the run-in would make a huge difference. The striker has been a big miss during his lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Forest will not want to rush him and Pereira will likely continue to tread carefully with the New Zealander. But the fact his first appearance since October resulted in a goal for the Under-21s showed just how valuable his comeback could be.
It is all about to get very interesting. Strap yourselves in for the ride ahead!
Will Forest stay up? Click HERE to have your say