Star Metro - Nuno wary of praise for high-flyers Forest

Nuno has guided Forest into third place in the Premier League ahead of Saturday's clash at seventh-placed Bournemouth, who have also defied expectations this season.

Forest have won seven of their last eight league games, with the lone draw in that sequence coming against leaders Liverpool.

That impressive streak has sparked hopes of a return to continental competition and revived memories of a golden era when Forest won the European Cup under celebrated boss Brian Clough in 1979 and 1980.

But Nuno insisted there was still plenty of work to be done between now and the end of the season, telling a pre-match press conference on Friday: "The expectations, we cannot control them. It doesn't change our approach.

"When there are too many compliments it is not good, keep them away."

Nuno, who celebrates his 51st birthday on Saturday, added: "The ambition is not measured by that (praise). The ambition is the way we operate and improve as a team because if we improve as a team the club will be better with the challenge ahead of us."

Forest's progress means the City Ground is becoming an increasingly attractive option for prospective new signings, although Nuno insisted: "Why do we need to sell ourselves to players?

"If they want to join us, if something is happening, they need to want to join us.

"We are a good club. It's a good club for the players. We are improving, growing, trying to get better, this is how it is."

P.M.Martin--SMC