Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper was impressed with how his side upped their performance levels in the second half to thrash Reading 4-0 at the City Ground.
The Reds moved to within two points of the play-off places in the Championship and extended their unbeaten run in the league to six games, thanks to a scintillating second-half display.
The Forest boss also discussed the impressive display from loanee forward Keinan Davis, who came up with two vital goals in the victory.
On the overall performance
The home side went into the break a goal to the good, but that was not without a few scares late in the half, with Reading having a handful of clear-cut opportunities to equalise.
Cooper was quick to highlight his disappointment at the first-half display but was encouraged by how his players picked themselves up to put Reading to the sword in the second period.
Cooper opened with: “We fell short for the rest of the first half in terms of performance levels, and we needed half-time, and I was ready to gee the lads up.
“I could see the way they were talking to each other in the dressing room, and they did it themselves, so they knew that they fell short towards the end of the first half.
“In the second half, we were a lot better, we were brave, and we moved the ball a lot quicker, and I always thought that the second goal would come.
“The first half was a good reminder of what we don’t want to do and the team we don’t want to be, whereas the second half was exactly what we want to be.”
On Keinan Davis
The Forest boss also expressed his delight over the performance of Davis, whose two goals showed clear areas in which the 24-year-old has already improved since making the loan switch from Aston Villa.
Cooper continued: “We’ve been doing a lot of work with him [Keinan Davis], and Grabs [Lewis Grabban] has been doing a lot of work with him surrounding his finishing in the box.
“He’s getting stronger; he played the full 90 minutes against Sheffield United, which was a significant milestone for him.
“He’s got a lot of potential, and this loan is going to be vital for him because he is playing games and for a massive club while wearing the number nine, so there is some pressure on him.
“Aside from the goals, I don’t think I saw him give the ball away, he brings the ball down well and brings others into play, and that isn’t just down to good coaching!
“I really wanted to sign him Swansea, so when the chance came this time around, I didn’t hesitate, and today he showed that he is a really good, technical player.”