Nottingham Forest beat Derby at the City Ground.
Nottingham Forest boss Martin O’Neill has praised the crowd at the City Ground after the club’s win over Derby County.
Yohan Benalouane’s second minute goal was enough for Forest to secure a 1-0 victory.
O’Neill described the City Ground as a ‘cauldron’, and said the atmosphere created by Nottingham Forest’s fans spurred his team on.
The Irishman told Nottingham Forest’s official club website: “It was a cauldron tonight and the passion is two-fold
“The crowd were fantastic for us, to start off they gave us that impetus and the players wanted to perform tonight which was very important.
“As we tired towards the end and hanging on, trying to make sure that we saw the game through, the crowd again were absolutely terrific. So I think the players and the crowd fed off each other.”
Benalouane was a January signing from Leicester City, and has immediately repaid O’Neill’s faith in him.
The victory helps Forest get closer to the promotion hunt.
Forest are in eighth place, closing the gap on seventh placed Derby to just a point.
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