Super Eagles and Nottingham Forest defender, Ola Aina praised his team’s solidity following their 2-0 win against Brentford at the Gtech community stadium on Saturday.
Forest handed Brentford their first home defeat of the season courtesy of Aina’s close range goal and Anthony Elanga’s strike few minutes after half time. The win was their ninth of the season, and it moved them up to fourth on the table with 31 points in 17 games.
Speaking after the game, Aina asserted that Forest had to dig deep to get a result away from home: “The scoreline was 2-0 but I feel like we dug deep for that and we worked hard to get a good game and 3 points,” he said. “We had to stay solid, that has been our aim of the season and especially today, we had to stay solid and compact and we executed that well,” he added.
Speaking on the change of shape which meant he was deployed in the right wing back role instead of his usual right back position, Aina revealed the intention of the team was to be more aggressive on counterattacks while maintaining solidity: “We started with it today so we could be more aggressive on counterattacks, and it worked in parts of the game. Obviously being solid at the back with the five and the three center backs was really good and it worked out,” the Super Eagles defender disclosed.
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Aina also commented on his goal, hailing the impact of Nuno Espírito Santo’s tactical insight: “The gaffer did say that when the other full back is on the ball in the crossing areas, I have got to get in the box and be around it just to affect things a little bit and luckily it fell to me and I put it in the back of the net,” he said.
Aina further reiterated that while it is good to dream, it is important for the team not to get carried away: “It’s really good what we’re doing and we’re just focusing on ourselves and taking it game by game. It is good to dream a little bit so as long as we work hard and keep our heads, not get too carried away, then I’m sure things should be fantastic come May.”
With 21 games to go, Nottingham Forest have already equalled their total wins of last season (9), however they will have to keep working if they are to secure an European spot at the end of the season. They host Tottenham on Boxing Day as they seek to maintain their winning run.
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