Nottingham Forest were on a winning streak of four games and were also unbeaten in the last six with five wins and one draw before they lost 4-0 at home to Fulham on Matchday 14 of the 2021-22 EFL Championship season. They had a terrible start to the season, and lost six of their first seven league games, and had just one point. They would’ve been bottom of the league at that moment if Derby County wouldn’t have gone through their 12 point deduction.
From that point, Forest have simply turned their season around under Steve Cooper by winning five of his last seven league games, taking 16 points from them. They now have 17 points from their opening 14 games and are currently 15th in the standings. In this post, we will have a look at the stats for Forest before and after their change in tactics.
Nottingham Forest had been playing a 4-4-1-1 formation for their first seven games of the season under manager Chris Hughton. The formation did not work and was a complete failure for them. They earned just one point from seven games with that formation and the board decided to sack the manager. Cooper was appointed as his replacement, as he changed to a 3-4-2-1 formation. It may be the new manager’s luck, or the effectiveness of the new formation, but so far, the managerial change has brought results in favour of Forest. After earning one point in the first seven games, they have earned 16 in the next seven.
Nottingham Forest have now improved their overall xG to 16.31, and have now scored a total of 18 goals in their 14 games. They had scored just five goals in their first seven games under Chris Hughton. Their change in form and formation saw them score 13 goals in the next seven games.
The xGA is the expected goals against the stat, and Forest now have an xGA of 19.25 and they have conceded a total of 20 goals. In their first seven games, their defence was leaking more goals than usual and conceded a total of 12 goals. Post the managerial change, they’ve conceded just eight goals in the seven games. They have improved their defensive abilities, and have had one of the best form in terms of results in the last six to seven weeks.
Nottingham Forest have highly relied on counterattacks, and they have recorded the least number of passes into the penalty area. They have had fewer touches in the final third and the opposition’s box, and have failed to initiate any kind of creativity.
Nottingham Forest have lately played in a 3-4-2-1 formation, where they have been far more defensive. they have absorbed the pressure from their opponents and relied on counterattacks to get their goals and attacks.
Before their defeat at the hands of second-placed Fulham, Nottingham Forest had the best record in the league along with Bournemouth in the last six games. they and Bournemouth both had won five and drew one of their last six games, recording 16 points. Forest have changed their season on its head and will hope to keep up their form and charge up the Championship table.
