Dougie Freedman: Nottingham Forest boss praises players
Last updated on .From the section Nottm Forest
Nottingham Forest boss Dougie Freedman has praised his team after they extended his unbeaten start as manager to five games by beating Bournemouth.
Victory moved Forest up to ninth in the Championship table, three places above where they were when Freedman replaced Stuart Pearce at the start of February.
"The players have been great," the former Bolton and Crystal Palace manager, 40, told BBC Radio Nottingham.
"They've come in every day embracing the challenges I'm putting on them."
He continued: "As a coach, it's great to see players that want to learn and want to turn up and want their lives to change - it's as simple as that."
| Forest results under Dougie Freedman |
|---|
| Saturday, 7 February: Brighton 2-3 Nottingham Forest |
| Wednesday, 11 February: Nottingham Forest 3-0 Wigan |
| Saturday, 14 February: Blackpool 4-4 Nottingham Forest |
| Saturday, 21 February: Nottingham Forest 4-1 Bolton |
| Wednesday 25 February: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Bournemouth |
Henri Lansbury's winning goal on Wednesday meant he has five goals in five games since the Scot took charge, after managing the same amount in 22 appearances prior to Freedman's arrival.
"I don't know what happened previously before I got here with Henri," said Freedman.
"All I can say is that without the fundamentals that we work on it wouldn't let the Henri Lansburys and Dexter Blackstocks and Chris Burkes flourish.
"We base ourselves on hard work, on team spirit and team desire and then that will let talent flourish.
"He's doing very well, but I do believe it's been a whole round group that's helping our talent to come to the top."
Meanwhile, Freedman says there are no injuries to report from the win against the Cherries, despite being forced into several substitutions.
"It's a tough division, gruelling on the body and on the mind as well, and I don't think it was injuries, I think it's complete exhaustion.
"Michail Antonio, Chris Burke and Danny Fox just put their bodies on the line and that's where we got the victory."
