Steve Cooper 'under pressure' at Nottingham Forest as owner gets twitchy

26 November 2023 , 13:13

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Steve Cooper is under pressure at Nottingham Forest (Image: Getty Images)

Steve Cooper's position at Nottingham Forest is looking increasingly uncertain after Saturday's 3-2 home defeat to Brighton.

Forest are 14th in the Premier League table and eight points clear of the drop zone. Although they aren't in danger of relegation at this moment in time, it's believed Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis isn't happy with the team's lack of progress this season.

Cooper was appointed in September 2021 when Forest were still in the Championship. They had just one point from their first seven games that term, but Cooper turned their fortunes around by winning promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.

Marinakis invested more than £150million into the squad during Forest's first season back in the big time, signing the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and Jesse Lingard. Yet they only just avoided relegation by finishing four points above the bottom three in 16th.

Marinakis continued to splash the cash during the recent transfer window, with seven players arriving on deadline day - including £30m man Ibrahim Sangare and Callum Hudson-Odoi. Yet Forest are still struggling to climb into the top half of the table.

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As reported by the Daily Mail, Marinakis is losing patience with Cooper and wants to see results improve after back-to-back defeats. Forest's next three games are against Everton, Fulham and Wolves - who are all located in the bottom half of the table.

It's claimed Cooper's relationship with Marinakis has become strained in recent months, but Forest aren't currently looking for a replacement. Ex-Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui has admirers at the City Ground, but Cooper will be given time to steady the ship.

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was in the stands for Saturday's defeat to Brighton (Getty Images)

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Cooper remains a popular figure among Forest fans and a lot of clubs - both in the Premier League and the Championship - would be interested in appointing him if he's sacked. The Welshman has even been described as a future England manager.

The former Swansea boss famously led England to victory at the U17 World Cup in 2017. His squad included Marc Guehi, Phil Foden, Rhian Brewster, Jadon Sancho, Emile Smith Rowe, Connor Gallagher and current Forest stars Gibbs-White and Hudson-Odoi.

Forest took the lead on Saturday when Anthony Elanga scored in the third minute. Evan Ferguson equalised before Joao Pedro hit a brace to make it 3-1. Brighton's Lewis Dunk was sent off for dissent and Gibbs-White scored a penalty, but the visitors hung on.

Cooper told Match of the Day: "We have loads of frustrations. First half, after a great start, we didn't play well enough with the ball. Then we conceded two goals, they played through us. Second half was more positive, we had more intent."

Cooper wasn't happy with Anthony Taylor's decision to award Brighton a penalty after Pedro was dragged down in the box. The Forest boss believes the foul was soft. Cooper added: "I just think if he gives that penalty, he's got to give so many."

Tom Blow