Nottingham Forest star explains why he feels sorry for Steve Cooper after Southampton win

Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White has revealed he feels sorry for manager Steve Cooper as his side battle against relegation from the Premier League.

The England Under-21 midfielder was in stunning form on Monday night as he scored and provided an assist as his side came out on top in a seven-goal thriller against fellow strugglers Southampton. A Taiwo Awoniyi brace and a Gibbs-White penalty put Forest into a 3-1 lead at half-time at the City Ground - but a Carlos Alcaraz goal gave the Saints something to build on in the second half.

Lyanco raised hopes of a comeback from the visitors but a neat flick from Gibbs-White allowed Danilo to restore Forest’s two-goal advantage and they held on for the win, despite James Ward-Prowse reducing the arrears deep in second half injury-time.

Speaking after the game, Gibbs-White spoke of his relationship with Cooper and the respect he holds for the man he worked under with England Under-17s and during a loan spell earlier in his career at Championship club Swansea City.

The Forest star told Sky Sports: “It’s incredible, I wish I had that relationship with every manager.

“He is unbelievable, the way he man-manages players is incredible. I’ve worked with him with England and I went to Swansea on loan. It’s just the type of guy he is, you can get on with him so well, he’s just a real down-to-earth good manager and I almost feel sorry for him with how the season has gone so far because the way he wants to play is not how we’ve been playing.

“We have to grind out results in the situation we are in and hopefully we can stay up so he can see the best of us next season. All he says to me is go and get on the ball and do what you do best, go and be free. Obviously there is a tactical side to it, defending and stuff, where I need to be, but he helps me with positions on the pitch where I can receive the ball. But it’s all down to belief in the manager and the respect I have for him is up there. I take my hat off to him for the stuff he has done and I wish to keep working with him for a long time.”

Forest are back in action on Saturday afternoon when they visit Chelsea.