Forest may have finally found right formula with Pereira
[Getty Images] Nottingham Forest finally have some clarity. On a fourth manager of the season they may have found the right formula just in time. Sunday's 3-0 win at Tottenham , so vital in the relegation battle, was their first in the Premier League under Vitor Pereira.
It was also Pereira's first win in the top flight in 11 months, having left Wolves in November winless this season. The Portuguese has brought a sense of harmony to the City Ground since February after the players failed to gel with Sean Dyche. The former Forest trainee lasted 144 days with the squad struggling to adapt to his methods and feeling there was too much focus on physicality and running over tactics.
The squad are more comfortable under Pereira and feel there is a clearer picture while they also believe, tactically, he looks to get the best out of them. That comes after Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou and Dyche kept the door revolving at the club this season. Pereira's time at Wolves ended in huge disappointment as the season fell apart quickly following mistakes in the transfer market and losing Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri but he has a track record of making quick impacts.
That has happened at Forest, even if it took five games for a Premier League victory. Forest beat Fenerbahce and Midtjylland to reach the Europa League quarter-finals and deserved more from a defeat by Liverpool . The 2-2 draw at Manchester City at the start of the month showed Forest's steel for the fight.
They are still just three points clear of the relegation zone and still not safe but there is a sense, especially with Tottenham's downward momentum, Pereira can take Forest to safety.