Nuno Espirito Santo expressed his delight after Nottingham Forest swept the Premier League’s monthly awards for October after their fine start to the season.
Forest earned victories over Crystal Palace and rivals Leicester City last month along with claiming a point against Chelsea, starting November with a 3-0 win over West Ham.
Nuno, along with in-form striker Chris Wood, scooped the Manager and Player of the Month awards, with the Tricky Trees sitting in the top four ahead of their meeting with Newcastle on Sunday.
However, the Forest boss insisted that his side’s success went beyond two individuals, saying: "I'm very proud of the way we've been doing things. All of us - starting from the owner to the staff in the training ground.
“Everybody has been working very hard, and it's very nice to be recognised. I think it's an effort from the club.
"Very pleased also for Chris. It reflects the hard work, but it's more important you remain humble. He's much more than the goals. It's what he represents and what he means to us.
“He puts everybody together, his presence in the dressing room, his voice, his experience. We are delighted."
Eddie Howe, meanwhile, also showered praise on one of his Newcastle players after Lewis Hall earned a first senior England call-up for the Three Lions’ upcoming Nations League fixtures.
Hall has been in impressive form for the Magpies this season, with the left-back’s 11 successful crosses and 15 chances created are totals only bettered by Anthony Gordon (15 and 20) in the Premier League for Newcastle.
Howe expressed his delight for the 20-year-old, but believes there is still more to come from the Magpies' youngster this season.
"I am delighted for him. He has a had a really good start to the season. He's very consistent, [has produced] really mature displays,” Howe said.
“There is still a lot to come from him, we are seeing him evolve week in, week out. He is adding layers to his game all the time. It’s a great achievement for someone so young, and we are delighted for him.”
Howe did, however, expect a tough test against Forest, who are four points ahead of them in the table after 10 games this season.
"Yeah, they are [having a great season]. Nuno deserves credit for the job he has done. They have recruited very well in recent transfer windows,” he added.
"They are very tough to play against. What a test that's going to pose for us to score against them. They have a solid defensive base, really good pace in wide areas and threats in the forward positions."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Nottingham Forest – Chris Wood
Having already scored against one of his employers in Leicester last month, Wood will be confident of striking against the Magpies, a side he scored five times for in 39 outings.
He has netted eight goals from just 21 shots for Forest in the Premier League this season – no player to have had at least 20 attempts has a better conversion rate than the New Zealander (38.1%) in the competition this term.
Newcastle United – Alexander Isak
Isak has scored three goals in his two Premier League games against Forest, only netting more against Tottenham and West Ham (five each).
He’s looking to score in three or more consecutive Premier League appearances for the fourth time since the start of last season, which would be the most different such runs of any player in that time.
MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW
Forest have won each of their last three Premier League games, last winning four in a row in the top-flight in April-May 1995, a season that saw them finishing third in the table.
Only Liverpool (six) have conceded fewer goals than Nottingham Forest (seven) in the top-flight so far this term, with only Brighton managing to score more than once against them in a league match. It’s the fewest goals they’ve conceded after 10 games of a top-flight campaign since their title winning season of 1977-78 (also seven).
With Nuno’s side sitting pretty in third, this is the first time Forest are facing Newcastle in a top-flight match while above them in the table since March 1989, when they drew 1-1 at the City Ground (Forest 5th, Newcastle 19th).
However, Forest have won just one of their 12 Premier League games against Newcastle (D3 L8), picking up a 3-1 win at St James’ Park last season with Wood netting a hat-trick.
Newcastle’s 1-0 win over Arsenal last time out ended a five-game winless run for the Magpies in the Premier League (D2 L3). All four of their league wins this term have been by a single goal – 67% of their victories last term were by a margin of at least two goals (12/18).
But Howe’s men will arrive in the East Midlands with confidence. Against no side have they played more Premier League away games without ever losing than Forest (six – W3 D3). Their last top-flight defeat at the City Ground was in May 1987 (W4 D4 since).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Nottingham Forest – 35.4%
Draw – 27.4%
Newcastle United – 37.2%
'Milan shown lack of respect' - Fonseca bemoans refereeing in Atalanta loss
Paulo Fonseca thinks referee Federico La Penna showed AC Milan "a lack of respect" during their 2-1 defeat by Atalanta.
Ademola Lookman's late strike settled the contest at Gewiss Stadium, where Alvaro Morata cancelled out Charles De Ketelaere's earlier effort.
While Atalanta climbed to the Serie A summit following a ninth straight win, Milan saw their seven-game unbeaten streak across all competitions come to an end.
However, Fonseca suggested his side were on the wrong end of questionable officiating, including for the hosts' first goal, where he felt De Ketelaere pushed Theo Hernandez while climbing to head home.
"I am not afraid to speak the truth," he told Sky Sport Italia. "I have always respected the work of the referees. I realise they have a difficult job, but every week, it is always the same.
"The way the referee officiated throughout this evening was a lack of respect for Milan.
"The first goal, [there] was a clear foul, there is absolutely no doubt. The way the referee officiated throughout was against Milan, there is no doubt."
Although, Fonseca acknowledged poor defending from set-pieces proved costly for his side.
"At the end of the day, we lost the game on two set-plays," he added. "The first half was very good, but in the second, we didn't have that link with the strikers.
"I think we deserved more tonight, it was tough to accept conceding two goals from dead-ball situations."
Meanwhile, Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini revelled in his side's victory, which lifted them to the top of the table and already had their supporters chanting songs about winning the Scudetto.
"Naturally, this is a great victory against a team with undoubtedly very talented players among the best in the league, and we thoroughly deserved the win," he said.
"The people of Bergamo have their feet firmly on the ground, so don't take anything for granted. If we were still up there after another 20 games, it'd be different, but as things stand, it is an expression of joy and a deserved one, too."
Luis Enrique has 'nothing to complain about' despite PSG's stalemate with Auxerre
Luis Enrique insists he has "nothing to complain about" after Paris Saint-Germain were held to a goalless draw by Auxerre.
The Ligue 1 leaders dropped points for the second game running after an inspired performance by Auxerre goalkeeper Donovan Leon at Stade de l'Abbe Deschamps.
Fabian Ruiz saw a first-half goal chalked off for offside as PSG failed to score in a league game for the first time this season.
Their cause was not aided by Leon, who made 11 saves during the match - the highest tally for a goalkeeper who has kept a clean sheet in the French top flight.
Nevertheless, Luis Enrique focused on the positives of his side's performance against Nantes, who have only lost one of their seven league games on home soil this term.
"It's clear that the result does not reflect what happened on the pitch, but we were up against the second-best team at home. We have created many chances to score," he told reporters.
"Obviously, the unfinished business is scoring goals, which is what wins games, but I have nothing to complain about my team. We have tried until the end, all we have to do is keep on trying.
"This is a team that scores a lot of goals and creates a lot of chances. If we are unlucky, I will never criticise my players for missing an opportunity to score. I just encourage them to keep building confidence and improve."
Messi vows Inter Miami will 'come back stronger' after MLS playoff disappointment
Lionel Messi insisted Inter Miami will "come back stronger" next season after landing the MLS MVP award for the 2024 campaign.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner scooped the accolade after captaining the Herons to their first Supporters' Shield title with a record 74 points.
Messi registered 32 direct goal involvements (21 goals, 11 assists) along the way, but the season ultimately ended in disappointment for Miami, who were stunned by Atlanta United in round one of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
But the Argentina skipper vowed he and his team-mates will bounce back in 2025 under new head coach - and former club and international colleague - Javier Mascherano.
"I would have liked to receive this award in another situation, being able to play the [MLS Cup] final next Saturday," Messi told Miami's academy players during a special ceremony at Chase Stadium.
"But that's also what football is about, overcoming yourself every day. We had a big dream of being MLS champions this year. It didn't happen, but next year, we'll come back stronger to try again."
Messi became the fifth Argentine to win the award after Christian Gomez (2006), Guillermo Barros Schelotto (2008), Diego Valeri (2017) and Luciano Acosta (2022).
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