Nottingham Forest’s Journey from Turmoil to Transformation | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest Transformed in a Year of Grit and Glory

Journey from Controversy to Contenders

On April 21, 2024, Nottingham Forest were engulfed in controversy, VAR rage, and Premier League peril. One year later to the day, they sit third in the table, fresh from a gutsy 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur and on the cusp of Champions League qualification. In that time, the club hasn’t just progressed — it has been transformed.

Forest’s journey over the past 12 months defies standard narratives. From a £750,000 fine for publicly criticising officiating decisions at Goodison Park to defying expectations in the top four, the shift has been monumental. Last season’s fight for survival has been replaced by a push for Europe, with Nuno Espirito Santo quietly moulding a side full of defiance and belief.

Photo: IMAGO

Results Forged from Resilience

Forest’s performance at Tottenham was a case study in controlled defiance. Despite having just 30% possession, they were clinical and composed — a pattern we’ve come to recognise. This was the 25th time Forest had taken the lead in a Premier League game this season. They’ve gone on to win 18 of those, drawing five and losing only two.

Against the backdrop of last season’s VAR grievances and points deductions, such consistency on the road is remarkable. Forest have won 53% of their away games — their highest ever in a Premier League season — with only Liverpool claiming more victories away from home in 2024–25.

They’ve also taken 19 points from a possible 24 against Spurs, Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool — a stunning return that underscores the club’s evolution.

Squad Stepping Up and Sharing the Load

What sets Forest apart is how contributions come from every corner of the squad. Elliot Anderson’s early strike against Spurs was his first Premier League away goal for the club. Chris Wood’s 19th league goal signalled his return to form, while Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi offered pace and calm under pressure.

Matz Sels was superb in goal. The defence, led by Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic, was stoic, making 55 clearances. Harry Toffolo, making his first league start of the season, pulled off a goal-line clearance that felt emblematic of this Forest side’s collective spirit.

Even the substitution of Ryan Yates, whose cynical foul halted a dangerous counter-attack, spoke of calculated commitment.

Photo: IMAGO

Progress Powered by Perspective

A year ago, Forest were spiralling. Now they are soaring. That transformation isn’t just tactical — it’s cultural. Seven of the players who started against Everton in 2024 also started against Spurs in 2025. But the mindset has changed. They are no longer driven by fear of the drop but by ambition for Europe.

Nuno has quietly engineered this shift. Forest still play without domination of possession, but their structure, counter-attacking thrust, and sheer work ethic have allowed them to rise above more expensively assembled sides.

They are no longer a team clinging to Premier League life — they are one plotting a European future.

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For Nottingham Forest supporters the past year has felt like a film — and not just because of the drama. Twelve months ago, fans were angry, fearful, and exhausted by the injustice and instability surrounding their club. Now, they feel proud, defiant, and united behind a team that fights for every inch.

What’s even more impressive is that this progress has not relied on wholesale change. The core of the team remains, but belief has taken root. The identity is clear, the structure strong, and the commitment total. Chris Wood leading the line with goals and grit, Sels providing assurance in goal, and unsung heroes like Toffolo stepping up — it’s a proper team.

Champions League football might still slip away, and a Wembley dream may yet fall short. But for most Forest fans, this season has already delivered something far more enduring: the feeling that their club is back. Transformed. And on the rise.