Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Nottingham Forest: Ryan Yates makes big statement ahead of play-off final
Nottingham Forest midfielder Ryan Yates says ‘I’m sure’ that the Reds will win the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium.
The Lowdown: Route to the final
Steve Cooper’s men booked their place in the ultimate showdown after beating Sheffield United on penalties at the City Ground on Tuesday night, with goalkeeper Brice Samba saving three spot-kicks to give his team the 3-2 shootout victory.
Forest will now face Huddersfield Town in the battle for promotion on May 29, and the midfield maestro already appears to be more than ready to put on what will have to be a huge performance against the Terriers.
The Latest: Yates’ fighting talk
Speaking during an interview with BBC Radio Nottingham after the club’s win over the Blades (as quoted by BBC Sport), Yates said:
“We want Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United coming to the City Ground every week and we’re not going to settle until that happens.
“It’s a great night but we want bigger nights.
“We need to go there (Wembley) with a game-plan and do the business.
“It’s incredible, but this is Nottingham Forest – we want to be at Wembley, we want to be in the Premier League.
“We’re looking forward to it (the final) – no nerves, stick to the plan and if we perform to our level, I’m sure we’ll go into the Premier League.”
The Verdict: Important player for Forest
Yates has more than played his part in helping Forest reach this point, having scored eight goals in the second-tier this season, but he has also shown how he can chip in both defensively and offensively.
The 24-year-old currently averages 1.9 tackles and 1.2 shots per league 90 minutes, via WhoScored, displaying the positive impact he can have at both ends of the pitch, and he is someone who has the potential to make all the difference in whether the Midlands outfit make the jump up to the top-flight or not.
Forest have received an initial ticket allocation of 36,475 at the West End of Wembley Stadium, so it promises to be a fantastic atmosphere, and the travelling fans will be hoping that their team will give them something to smile about at the end of the month.
