Nottingham Forest back in England’s top flight

LONDON (AP):

Two-time European Cup winners Nottingham Forest are back in the top flight of English football for the first time since 1999.

Forest beat Huddersfield 1-0 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium yesterday to secure their return to the English Premier League next season.

The most lucrative match in football – it’s worth 170 million pounds (US$215 million) in future broadcast money and guaranteed earnings – was settled by an own-goal by Huddersfield defender Levi Colwill just before half-time.

Forest had a late scare when goalkeeper Brice Samba was injured and replaced in the 89th minute by American Ethan Horvath, who made his first appearance since March 20 in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Huddersfield, who had two strong penalty appeals waved away in the second half, finished the regular season in third place – one spot ahead of Forest – as they sought a first return to the Premier League since relegation in 2019.

Forest join champions Fulham and second-place Bournemouth in getting promoted from the Championship.

Forest have a big name in English football, having won back-to-back European Cups, in 1979 and ’80, under Brian Clough.

But they fell on hard times, even becoming the first-ever European Cup-winning club to fall into the third division of a domestic league system.

Forest did it the hard way this season, too. The team was in last place – with six defeats and a draw from their first seven games – when Steve Cooper took charge in September, and the former Swansea manager has transformed Forest’s fortunes.

KINDNESS

Asked to assess Cooper’s contribution to promotion, Forest captain Joe Worrall said: “I keep using the expression ‘like a whipped dog.’ If you treat any dog with kindness, then they become a nice dog. If you mistreat one, then they’re aggressive, and we were. We’ve been a mistreated team.

“He’s come in and he’s given us that hope, given us that belief, and he’s just been so nice. He’s just killed us with kindness, and the fans absolutely adore him.”

Colwill, a centre back on loan from Chelsea, was unfortunate to put the ball through his own net in the 43rd minute after a teasing cross from Forest striker James Garner.