Nottingham Forest have returned to English Premier League (EPL) after Huddersfield Levi Colwill’s own goal, in the Championship play-off final at the Wembley Stadium, resulted in a 1-0 vital win for Steve Cooper’s side to clinch the promotion ticket.
Cooper took over Forest in September when they were rocking the bottom of the EFL Championship table and guided the team to return to England’s top-flight league 23 years since 1999.
While Huddersfield’s former defender and soccer pundit, Michael Hefele, lamented that ‘The Terriers’ were robbed by VAR, Nottingham Forest coach, Steve Cooper, in a post-match interview, attributed the victory to the collective effort of the team.
Cooper claimed that Forest have scored spectacular goals this season which engineered the Nottinghamshire-based club to get the kind of winning goal it deserved in the play-offs’ final.
“I’m really pleased for the players and the supporters. I think we played well in the first half. And of all the good goals we’ve scored this season, we get one like that – but it doesn’t matter. And we managed to see it through. Everyone connected to this football club deserves this today. We’re looking forward to a positive future,” Cooper told Sky Sports.
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“It’s relief of course but it’s pride. I love being at this football club. It’s changed my life. My family are here, the players’ families are here – this football club is about belonging to a city. It comes together on matchday. We’ve taken over Wembley today and are in the Premier League.
“This football club is built on positive eras from the past and we want to build on that. We are proud of that but at the same time we need to think ‘what if?’ Can we get the Premier League? Can we play attractive football? What if we can develop young players? And that’s what we’ve done showing an attitude and a commitment to not get beat. We deserve this.
“It’s a glamorous world being a footballer and a manager but it’s also a harsh and spiteful one. And I just wanted the players to know I will be their biggest supporter and give them everything through thick and thin. It doesn’t mean I’m soft with them or don’t demand of them but everybody loves to be loved. That’s what we’ve tried to do with the players,” Cooper added.
Reacting to the defeat, Michael Hefele has said Huddersfield were robbed by VAR after two penalty claims against Forest were turned down by referee Jon Moss.
“Shocking. Huddersfield were robbed. The VAR is here. If you don’t give the penalty for the first one, you have to give this one as you know you made a mistake for the first one,” infuriated Hefele told Sky Sports.
“If the ref can’t see it, and his team can’t see it, which is poor, then, obviously, we have got VAR for such a big game and they have to see it. It is unacceptable that they don’t give a penalty because it is a clear touch. I’m not being a bad loser whatsoever, but this is a clear penalty and how on Earth the guys from the VAR can’t see this is shocking,” he added.
Meanwhile, Leyton Orient manager Jobi McAnuff, expositing the penalty claims, opined that VAR could have ruled in favour of Huddersfield.
He said, “There is contact [on O’Brien] but it’s how that contact is initiated. That is a tough call. Much tougher than the first one which I would’ve given.
“But again, there was no check or time for the referee to have a look. If you’ve got VAR, go and use it. We’ve got it here for this specific purpose. Look at how much is at stake. Just go and look at the monitor then make your decision. I think we can then all live with that decision a bit better,” he added.
The Trumpet reports that Huddersfield is the first English club to win three consecutive First Division trophies in a role. A feat not surpassed but has been equalled by Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United. The First Division has since been renamed ‘Premier League’ in 1992.
