TAIWO Awoniyi has praised Nottingham Forest’s technical crew and his teammates for the part they have played in his impressive recent performances.
The Super Eagles striker has scored four goals in two games as Forest defeated Southampton 4-3 and drew 2-2 with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in their push to avoid relegation.
Awoniyi scored the opening goal on Saturday and equalised for Forest after Chelsea had turned the game around and taken the lead.
The Nigeria international praised the manager Steve Cooper and his crew as well as the unity within the Forest squad for the crucial point at Chelsea.
“I think it was a hard game, but kudos to the coaching staff and the whole team for sticking to the plan we came up with,” Awoniyi said.
“For us to leave with a point is something we’re obviously very happy about. It could be the most important point for us, who knows?
“With the way the manager and the staff conduct the team and the togetherness we have, this game shows how united we are.
“As a player, you can’t give up. You have to keep on giving everything no matter the situation, if you’re playing or not, if you’re on the bench, you just have to work hard and keep on believing.”
The former Liverpool star then described his two goals against Chelsea and the role his teammates played.
“It was a great ball from Renan for the first goal,” he explained. “In training he put a similar cross in and I didn’t score, so he said to me “in the game, you have to score”, so I said “okay, I will”.
“I have to thank the manager too. I had a similar chance against Brentford and he sat me down and spoke to me about what to do, and thankfully it worked today.
“This is what makes a team, this is what makes you better, when you have someone who gives you the chance to understand the game more and what you need to do better.
“The second goal is also part of the coaches’ work. They came up with the idea of the throw-ins and we have created many chances from this.
“It was something special from Moussa, but also from Orel as well, and as a striker, you have to be ready for anything in the box.”
On scoring four goals in two games after recovering from a long-term injury, Awoniyi said he was happy to be back and firing again, stressing how his teammates have helped him.
“To be honest, the injury was a setback as that was the time I thought I was getting going,” he noted.
“Like I said though, if you have an injury, if you’re not playing or if you’re on the bench, all you can do is work hard.
“All the goals that are coming now are just a way of showing how hard I have worked. For me, the most important thing is that I believe in God, and he’s always behind me in everything I do.
“The goals aren’t coming if my teammates aren’t giving me the chances, it’s a collective idea and collective work together. We are getting there and now we have two more finals to go.”
Forest are currently 16th, two places and two points clear of the relegation zone with two games to go.
