Going into their Europa League quarter-final with Porto, Nottingham Forest were entering their season-defining period.
Fast forward 10 days and they are in the last four of a European competition for the first time in 42 years having also claimed four crucial points in their battle against relegation.
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Morgan Gibbs-White’s hat-trick was the catalyst against Burnley and Forest’s star man produced when his team desperately needed it.
This week – after a draw with Aston Villa and the quarter-final second-leg victory over Porto on Thursday – should give Forest the final platform for survival.
This win leaves Vitor Pereira’s side closing in on safety and still with a chance of European glory.
A first home league win since the 3-0 victory over Tottenham in December should also ease the anxiety at the City Ground.
The nerves were evident after Zian Flemming’s first-half opener at the end of a wretched first half which lacked intensity and imagination.
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With the loss of Murillo – who limped on to the pitch to celebrate at the final whistle – Forest’s afternoon could have fallen apart. But impressive resilience and recovery rescued them to earn a vital win at the bottom.
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