Anderson shows character to go with talent after personal loss
Elliot Anderson is established as one of the leading midfielders in the Premier League and the past three weeks have demonstrated the strength of character he has to go with his rare talent. The midfielder's leveller against his former club Newcastle United , which earned Nottingham Forest a crucial point on Sunday , was even more admirable given the personal loss he has suffered. His mother Helen passed away last month, with Anderson laying a wreath on the pitch before Forest's victory against Burnley in April.
He has since scored against Sunderland and then on Sunday netted the equaliser just 48 hours after his mother's funeral - a goal that edged Forest to the brink of Premier League survival, confirmed three hours later with West Ham United 's defeat by Arsenal . Anderson returned from the north east of England to face Newcastle following his mum's funeral on Friday, a day after Forest's Europa League semi-final exit to Aston Villa . He had already scored in the 5-0 win at Sunderland last month as he continues to produce for Forest.
"It did [mean a lot] - a few things going on recently, so it felt really nice," he told Sky Sports. "We've made a U-turn and done really well. The manager is brilliant and we're all behind him.
It was a tough game in midweek but as the manager said, this group is full of fighters. "Four managers has not been easy but we've all stuck together and fought for each other. " Manager Vitor Pereira praised the midfielder's courage after his fourth goal of the season following an emotional week.
"It's difficult for me and I believe everybody can understand what he's feeling inside," he said. "But in the end I believe that he honours his mother, going on the pitch and running until the last breath. "I think he wants a lot to score a goal, and he believes until the end.