A stunning Tiago Silva free-kick secured a second successive home win for Nottingham Forest as they beat Bristol City 1-0.
The Reds took another step towards a top six finish as they came through a bruising encounter at the City Ground.
It wasn’t always pretty, and a few players ended up in the wars, while the Robins had Ashley Williams sent off late on - but the hosts came through to clinch a vital three points.
Here’s what Forest head coach Sabri Lamouchi had to say afterwards.
You must be pretty pleased with that result. How important a win is it?
“It is a massive result. A great, important victory.
“I am happy for the boys - not just for the victory, but especially for the clean-sheet.
“The first half was not so good and we suffered. The second was more decent.
“But we deserved to win.
“We have a lot of games in this critical moment, but I am very, very happy for this massive result.”
Does it matter how you get the wins at this stage of the season?
“The season is still not finished. We still have a minimum of six games to play.
“We have to adapt to the situation - we knew that from the beginning.
“The result is the most important thing. We have taken seven points from nine, and two victories at home in a row.
“It is an important game for all of us on Saturday (against Derby County), and it will be an interesting game to play.
“It is difficult. It is difficult for Bristol. It will be difficult for Derby. It is difficult for everyone to play every three days after a long stop and with short preparation.
“The games are not like before. You see a lot of mistakes and not much rhythm; not the same intensity or atmosphere.
“To keep the focus high, is a fantastic performance, for me.
“The clean-sheet was important and the three points as well.”
You must be pleased with the goal which won it?
“Sometimes we need set-pieces or free-kicks, or maybe something from single players.
“I am happy for Tiago because he has that quality.”
You said before the game you had a ‘small chance’ of automatic promotion, do you think you’ve kept those hopes alive?
“It is impossible to think about that, especially when you look at the way we play, where we are physically and what we are doing.
“We have to be realistic.
“We are having a fantastic season.
“We have to keep going and take it game by game.
“Honestly, the small chance is very, very small. Because for that, we need to be brilliant.
“We have a fantastic squad and perfect mentality, but we are suffering a lot.
“If you want to go up directly, you need talent, you need players, you need luck - and we are a lot of points behind.”
Is Joe Lolley okay? Did he have an injury problem?
“He felt a small pain.
“But like usually with Lolley, it was a tactical choice.
“I am sure Lolley could have played a better second half, like the others.
“But when you have that performance, you need to do something.
“I had it in my mind to make changes, but one was the minimum - just to wake up the dressing room and wake up the players, because we played the wrong way.
“We played without confidence and without energy.
“But it was a very good win.”
