Nottingham thunders back to Premier League

Nottingham Forest FC is back in the Premier League after 23 years. The Reds prevailed 1-0 in the Championship play-off final, which took place at iconic Wembley, over Huddersfield, sealing its return to the top flight of English football.

The promotion marks a stunning success for Vangelis Marinakis’ team, as the latter managed to fulfill his promise to the fans of the popular English team, namely, to return Nottingham Forest back to the Premier League — where it belongs, to the league that reflects its history.

One of the most historic teams in the United Kingdom, with Steve Cooper and his players enjoying the full support of Vangelis Marinakis, is back in the top flight of English football.

The Welshman and his players wrote their names in gold letters of the club’s history on Sunday, cheered on by thousands of their fans at Wembley.

A game-cum-celebration was in store for Nottingham Forest, which managed to knock out Huddersfield and earn its promotion to the Premier League. The game capped off a great year for the Reds, who did not stop believing in the dream of promotion and finally got it right, returning to the world’s most competitive football league.

A great success, which of course bears the stamp of Vangelis Marinakis, who guided the team out of a very tenuous situation and managed to make it a protagonist again; a success celebrated by all Nottingham fans, with Cooper and his players living unforgettable moments at Wembley.

Nottingham Forest was better throughout the match on Sunday against Huddersfield and won the game fairly, and by extension the promotion. The goal that decided the match came in the 43rd minute, when Huddersfield’s Levi Colwill sent the ball into his own team’s net after cross into the box by James Garner.

The game featured few opportunities for scoring, with both teams focusing on defense. Nottingham Forest threatened first with Ryan Yates, but his header went just wide of Huddersfield keeper Lee Nicholls’ crossbar. Shortly before halftime, the Reds managed to open the score.

Garner made the cross and Colwill inadvertently sent the ball into Nicholls’ net, giving Nottingham the lead. The same tempo continued in the second half, with Steve Cooper’s club defensively pressing throughout the pitch in front of Brice Samba’s goalpost. Huddersfield wasn’t dangerous in the second half, allowing Nottingham Forest the right to earn the win and promotion to the Premier League.

Huddersfield (C. Corberan): Nicholls, Lees, Colwill, Sarr (56 ‘Russell), O’Brien, Hogg, Avila, Toffolo, Sinani (66’ Holmes), Thomas, Ward (66 ‘Rhodes).

Nottingham Forest (St. Cooper): Samba (90 ‘Horvath), Worrall, Cook, McKenna, Spence, Yates, Garner, Colback, Zinckernagel (75’ Lowe), Johnson, Davis (66 ‘ Surridge).