Tiago Silva’s second half strike proved the difference for Nottingham Forest in South Wales as they toppled Cardiff City 1-0.
The Reds ended a run of three games without a win and climbed to third in the Championship table after a solid performance against the Bluebirds.
Here’s what head coach Sabri Lamouchi had to say afterwards.
You must be pleased with that result tonight?
“It was a fantastic performance and a great result.
“The lads deserved this victory. But what a game - what effort and sacrifice from everyone.
“Lewis (Grabban) didn’t score, but what a game he had. Ben Watson, our captain, all the time he took the right decisions and was always in a good position.
“But it was the same from everyone.
“I liked the attitude and the commitment. Everyone was involved.
“We deserved this victory. We deserved to score more, it was just that last touch, maturity and quality sometimes.
“But it was three points and another clean-sheet, which is very positive.”
It was a great defensive performance, wasn’t it?
“To get a clean-sheet you need to defend well, and tonight we defended well. Like usually.
“Probably with more quality and the right decisions at the right times, we could have scored one or two more and controlled the game more.
“It was so tough until the end, but I am so happy with the result and the performance.
“We keep going.”
You keep getting some great results away from home, don’t you?
“Away and at home, it is so tough and so difficult.
“We just need to think about the opponent, to respect the plan and to work hard, and to play as a team, like we know we can. We did that tonight.
“It was not a bad performance last week against QPR, we just missed a goal. Tonight, we scored one and it was enough. Probably against QPR, one would have been enough, too.
“We just need to enjoy it and think about the next one - another long trip and another difficult game against a good team.
“It is step by step.”
Will it help that you have an extra few days to prepare for Middlesbrough, on the Monday night?
“But after Monday night, we play on the Friday.
“We just need to anticipate everything.
“We just need to try to take the best choice for the players.
“I am so surprised by their commitment and sacrifice; the effort from everyone.”
The other results have gone your way and you’re up to third...
“I am not looking at the others. Of course I know the results, but we just need to focus on ourselves.
“We just take it game by game.
“Last week I said we just want to increase the belief, and we increase the belief game after game.
“What I feel inside the dressing room is that the players are so focused. They are not tired.
“I don’t know where they find the energy for that kind of effort in the last minute.
“They are so concentrated and so focused. It is so nice to work with them.
“I am so proud.
“They are playing for the fans, playing for the club and playing for themselves.
“They are doing well and they deserve to be where they are. They are there by merit.
“To have 59 points is fantastic. Amazing.
“But there are 11 games left and we need to be 100 percent focused for the next one.”
