Lewis Grabban proved to be the match winner in Nottingham Forest's memorable 1-0 win over Arsenal on Sunday evening.

The skipper's contract runs out at the end of the season but if he keeps performing the way he has since Steve Cooper's arrival, the Crystal Palace academy graduate should secure a new deal.

Cooper paid tribute to Grabban's contribution this season, topped off by his late goal against the Gunners, when he spoke to The Athletic.

He said: "He is a really important part of what we are doing. We have to manage him carefully because of his age. He is a top captain; I value the role of captain massively. We discuss a lot of things. The guys here will not be surprised to see Grabbs come on and do that (score against Arsenal) because he is still a high-quality player and he has a lot more to give."

Keinan Davis earned his first start since signing on loan from Aston Villa on Sunday, but Grabban clearly asserted his authority after coming off of the bench.

There has been a lot made of the younger talents within Forest's ranks like Brennan Johnson and Djed Spence but there is an argument that Grabban is more crucial than both of them.

The Verdict

 

 

The momentum and belief that a win like Sunday's builds in Forest's play-off push this season cannot be underestimated.

The Reds have a way to go sitting six points behind Huddersfield Town in sixth, but the positive feeling around the club and some of the consistently excellent individual performances suggest that they will at least come very close to breaking into the play-offs.

Grabban, among others, experienced the final day heartbreak in 2019/20 that saw the club pipped to a top six spot by Steve Cooper's Swansea City coincidentally, and he will be even hungrier to make amends this time around.

The vast majority of Forest supporters will be hoping that Grabban's future is secured before we reach the business end of the campaign, with the journeyman striker finally looking settled at the City Ground.