Resurrection: Steve Cooper’s Nottingham Forest

Late September loomed for Chris Hughton’s Nottingham Forest and after steering the former European Cup holders clear of relegation the season prior to that – the goalposts had moved and expectations shifted.

Targeted for the following season was to build towards an achievement that the Essex-born boss had completed twice beforehand with Brighton and Hove Albion and Newcastle United respectively.

However, the hopes of progressing up towards the play-off places became fragmented by a disastrous beginning to the season.

Within eight games, Forest found themselves a place from bottom in the EFL Championship and only propped up from the foot of the table itself by local rivals Derby County who had accrued a points deduction.