Awoniyi Emphasizes Winning Mentality for Nottingham Forest
Taiwo Awoniyi, the Nigeria international, has highlighted the importance of cultivating a strong winning mentality within the Nottingham Forest squad. His comments followed a recent pre-season friendly match where he scored one of the team’s three goals.
During the match against Blackburn, Awoniyi contributed to Forest’s 3-0 victory by scoring the third goal shortly after Arnaud Kalimuendo had doubled their advantage. The game was played at the Estádio da Nora in Portugal, marking Forest’s second pre-season outing.
Awoniyi also took on the role of captain during the second half of Forest’s last two pre-season fixtures. He noted that pre-season is crucial for building rhythm and preparing for the upcoming Premier League season, as well as for scoring goals.
Match details and player contributions
Nottingham Forest secured a 3-0 win over Blackburn in a friendly match. The team demonstrated control from the beginning of the first half to the end of the second. The scoring began with a goal from Igor Jesus, who capitalized on a rebound after a shot from Morgan Gibbs-White was saved.
The second half saw a quicker succession of goals. Kalimuendo scored the second goal early in the half, receiving a pass from Awoniyi before finding the back of the net. Awoniyi then added the third goal, extending Forest’s lead to 3-0. Eric Moreira was involved in the build-up to Awoniyi’s goal.
The match experienced a cooling break due to the intense heat in Portugal. Despite the conditions, Forest maintained possession and controlled the pace of the game, limiting Blackburn’s dangerous chances. Several substitutions were made by both teams throughout the second half, which contributed to a slower pace of play.
Forest’s starting lineup for the match included Matz Sels in goal, with a back three of Jair Cunha, Nikola Milenkovic, and Morato. Ola Aina and Neco Williams played as wing-backs, while Ryan Yates and Nicolas Dominguez were in midfield. James McAtee and Gibbs-White supported Igor Jesus in attack.
Squad preparation and absences
Forest’s head coach, Oliver Glasner, named a strong starting eleven for the match against Blackburn. However, the team is still without several key players as they continue their preparations for the new season.
Centre-back Murillo, full-back Nicolo Savona, and winger Callum Hudson-Odoi were not involved in the game. These players are recovering from injuries but have traveled to Albufeira with the squad. Glasner indicated that Hudson-Odoi is expected to return quickest, with Murillo and Savona taking more time for their rehabilitation.
Wide man Omari Hutchinson also missed the match due to muscle tightness and is being rested. Additionally, striker Chris Wood, midfielder Ibrahim Sangare, and winger Dan Ndoye have not yet joined the squad following their participation in the World Cup. Glasner had previously stated that Wood and Sangare would link up with the team in Portugal, with Ndoye expected to return later.
Awoniyi emphasized that the pre-season period is essential for players to gain fitness and accumulate minutes on the field. He stated that the games played now are where the team can get all the necessary work done, as there will be less time for running once the season commences. He concluded that the winning mentality needed to achieve anything starts during this preparatory phase.
Read Also
Source: tribalfootball.com
