The last time they reached such heights was in August 1998, when a 2-1 victory over Southampton placed Dave Bassett’s team second in the league standings. Under the management of Nuno Espirito Santo, Forest has handed league leaders Liverpool their only defeat this season and now stands proudly above prominent clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United.
While the two-time European Cup champions may not yet be ready to relive the glory days of Brian Clough’s era, their current standing is a positive indication of progress following last season's struggle against relegation. A four-point deduction in March due to a violation of the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations put Forest in serious jeopardy of falling to the Championship.
Tensions at the City Ground escalated after a controversial defeat to Everton in April, during which the club's social media accused VAR official Stuart Attwell of bias towards relegation rivals Luton. Ultimately, Forest managed to avoid relegation and has capitalized on their second chance.
New Zealand striker Chris Wood has been instrumental in Forest's ascent up the table. The 32-year-old, who was named Premier League Player of the Month for October, has contributed eight of Forest’s 14 goals this season. Since making his move from Newcastle permanent in June 2023, Wood has scored 22 goals in 30 league appearances.
Defensively, Forest has also been impressive, with goalkeeper Matz Sels achieving the joint-most clean sheets in the league this season. The arrival of Nikola Milenkovic from Fiorentina during the pre-season has strengthened the defense, forming a solid partnership with Brazilian Murillo.
Nuno has been the driving force behind Forest's resurgence, effectively addressing the skepticism surrounding his appointment to succeed the dismissed Steve Cooper in December.
His tenure at Tottenham was brief, lasting only 17 matches before his departure in 2021, and although he enjoyed a largely successful four years at Wolves, that period also ended on a disappointing note.
The meticulous Portuguese manager made his return to the Premier League after securing the Saudi Pro League title with Al-Ittihad, demonstrating that he was a wise choice for the club.
Notably, Nuno has managed to navigate the challenges posed by Forest's demanding owner, Evangelos Marinakis, who is currently serving a five-game suspension for spitting at officials following a defeat to Fulham in September.
“Starting from the owner, the ambition to grow and improve the club makes us all aware that we have to give our best,” said Nuno.
“Ambition is good. Demanding is good. But we cannot get away from our track, so I insist we have to remain humble and realise we haven’t achieved anything. I don’t just say that, it is the truth.”
The ambition is clearly illustrated by the upcoming appointment of Edu, who recently stepped down as Arsenal’s sporting director to take on a new position overseeing Marinakis’ collection of clubs, which notably includes the prominent Greek team, Olympiacos.
While Nuno is determined to prevent Forest from becoming complacent, the long-suffering supporters at City Ground are beginning to envision a return to European competition for the first time since the 1995-96 season.
Forest's victory at Anfield and a draw against Chelsea indicate their potential to compete effectively against top-tier teams.
However, the true test of their resurgence is approaching, with challenging away matches against Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester United, along with home fixtures against Aston Villa and Tottenham, all set to take place before the year concludes.
As a perfectionist, Nuno continues to push his players to elevate their performance, regardless of the opposition they face.
“We have to recognise there are a lot of mistakes being made that we have to correct, so the ambition is that. Keeping on track is what we have to do,” he said.