Perquis demands more aggression from Forest teammates

(Picture: Action Images)

Nottingham Forest’s tough-tackling defender Damien Perquis has demanded more aggression from his teammates if they want to be successful this season.

The 32-year-old centre-back, who joined the club for free in the summer, has already established himself as a no-nonsense defender for Phillipe Montanier’s men, and wants the rest of his colleagues to follow suit.

He told the Nottingham Post: “During the first half we were not very aggressive but we created some opportunities and we could have scored more. We did score through Nicklas [Bendtner].

“It was the plan to press them. But we were also more organised after half-time, when it came to pressuring the ball. It was a tough game and we did not have much of the ball. It was more of a game where you had to run, rather than enjoying possession. It was difficult.

“It was a very open game, they are very open when they are on the ball so it was a good option for us to play on the counter attack. But we needed to be more aggressive.”

As well as more aggression, Perquis knows that Forest’s defending must improve, with the club having already conceded 20 this season – the most in the Championship.

It has proved to be their achilles heel so far this campaign, and with Fulham enjoying lots of the ball last night and creating chances, it was thanks to ‘keeper Vladimir Stojkovic that Forest stayed in the game.

Perquis said: “He made some good saves. But he is here for that. The save in the first half was unbelievable and he is often like a wall. But that is what he is there for.

“Sometimes he has to do that for us and sometimes we have to do something for him.

“It is all about the team work. We need to keep working as a team then it will come.”