Nottingham Forest fans will be waking up and going into work with smiles on their faces today. The Tricky Trees overcame their fiercest rivals Derby County last night, winning 1-0 at the City Ground thanks to a Yohan Benalouane goal inside the first two minutes and the fans simply cannot get enough of their derby winning hero.
What a night , stadium on fire @officialnffc massive win 3 points tonigth #game #battle #coyr #reds #nottingham #nottinghamforest amazing support #yb29pablopicasso #hitmanbenalouane pic.twitter.com/GgafL0utBO
— Benalouane Yohan (@YohanBenalouane) 25 February 2019
The Tunisian centre-back is still settling into life in Nottingham and his goal last night will have gone a very long way to helping him do that. Martin O’Neill made the 31-year-old his first signing when he brought him in from Leicester City on an 18-month contract for an undisclosed fee, a decision that is already paying off after his performance and game-winning goal last night.
Whilst Benalouane’s goal was the obvious highlight of the game for the Tunisian, his all-round performance was top notch and his defensive work a joy to behold. Alongside Alexander Milosevic at the back, the Forest centre-halves stood up the test that Frank Lampard’s side put them through and they stood firm, allowing the Rams to get just six shots away with only two of those on target in a game where a Benalouane-led Forest never looked like letting Derby through.
You can read the Forest fans’ messages for Benalouane after his heroics here:
You were unreal tonight! One of the best defensive performance’s in a Derby match for years. Great poachers finish as well
— Jamie Stone (@JamieStone1986) February 25, 2019
That was a performance legends are made from, absolutely rock solid. MoM for me by far! #reddog
— Hoppo (@LouiseHopkin) 25 February 2019
Yohan, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again……. You’re going to be a legend here at Forest…… Awesome performance again
— Shawn Wood (@5hawn_Wood) 25 February 2019
You’re already becoming a hero mate keep it up
— Terry Howard (@terencenffc) 26 February 2019
Awesome game gone down in the legends hall of fame
— Philip Steel (@philsteel57) February 25, 2019
Absolute beast of a performance. Yourself and Milosevic look impenetrable
— MOD RED (@ModReds) February 25, 2019
Legend made it … Next
— Begood BC (@wallyweird) February 26, 2019
You were immense tonight pal. Fantastic
— Gray Bolam (@graybforest) 25 February 2019
Yesterday’s performance is one that the Forest fans will remember for a very long time and they’ll be keen to see more from Benalouane after his incredible performance.
