A year ago
To snap an 11-match losing streak, Forest will play Brighton on Wednesday.
Nottingham Forest's struggle for Premier League survival is not a surprise, but Steve Cooper claimed there is still hope they can avoid relegation despite a poor run of results.
The Midlands team spent 46 of the first 52 days of the previous season in the Championship relegation zone until Cooper guided Forest to the top division for the first time in 23 years, earning promotion through the play-offs.
Forest has struggled this season despite a summertime roster revamp, and they enter Wednesday's encounter against Brighton looking to snap an 11-match winless record that has dropped them to 19th in the standings.
Cooper acknowledged that his team was always going to be in a tough spot, but he believes a valiant effort in a weekend 3-2 loss at Liverpool showed there is still hope they can pull through.
At the end of the season, "we were always likely to be playing for something like this," he remarked. There's no denying that we're a little bit playing catch-up.
"You shouldn't ever speak too positively following a loss, especially given the run we're currently on. However, the fact that they went to Anfield and troubled Liverpool there demonstrates that they have faith in the group and a want to succeed. We persevered in the game and didn't give up until it was over.
"We easily might have learned something from the games and weekend, where we should have performed better. It gives you comfort in knowing that if you prepare properly for a game, we can win any game.
"We need to maintain our faith in that. We must continue; indeed, there are many things we may improve upon; yet, without the belief that we can do better, we have no opportunity.
The recent struggles of Forest have been made worse by injuries, and Scott McKenna has added his name to the growing list due to a fractured collarbone that will keep the defender out for the next six games of the season.
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