Taiwo Awoniyi scores as Nottingham Forest emphasize “winning mentality” in 3-0 pre-season victory
Taiwo Awoniyi nets and captains Forest in 3-0 friendly; he says the 2026/27 campaign’s foundations are being laid during pre-season with fitness and focus.
Taiwo Awoniyi returned to the scoresheet as Nottingham Forest beat Blackburn Rovers 3-0 in a pre-season friendly, a result the striker says reflects the club’s wider preparation for the 2026/27 campaign. Awoniyi, who captained the side, framed the victory as part of a broader process of rebuilding match sharpness and confidence after a disrupted 2025/26 season. The forward’s contribution underlined his growing influence in Oliver Glasner’s squad during a campaign of intensive physical work and tactical sessions. Forest’s backroom staff and players described the match as another step toward the standards they want to take into competitive fixtures.
Match day performance and scoring return
Taiwo Awoniyi led the line with a composed finish that opened the scoring and set the tone for a controlled Forest outing against Championship opposition. The team combined disciplined pressing with quicker transitions, allowing the hosts to dominate territory and create clear chances. Awoniyi’s goal arrived amid a string of encouraging moments that suggested his recovery from last season’s inconsistency is progressing. Teammates credited his movement and hold-up play for creating space for the other attackers to exploit.
Forest’s overall display blended intensity and patience, with the coaching staff using the game to trial positional tweaks and fitness targets. Substitutions were made primarily to manage minutes and give peripheral players a run at match pace. Blackburn offered a testing physical presence, but Forest’s sharper passing and defensive shape limited their opportunities. The clean sheet will provide confidence to the defensive unit ahead of tougher pre-season assignments.
Pre-season emphasis on fitness and rhythm
Coaching sources say the primary objective of the current tour is to rebuild endurance and sharpen tactical cohesion before competitive fixtures begin. The training program has placed a premium on high-intensity running, full 90-minute simulations and coordinated pressing patterns. Players have reported demanding sessions in warm conditions, with specialist staff monitoring load to reduce injury risk while increasing match readiness. That balance between conditioning and careful minute management is central to the team’s preparation.
Awoniyi highlighted that the rhythm recovered in pre-season is as important as raw fitness, noting that training drills and friendly minutes allow players to re-establish timing and understanding. Coaching staff have targeted repeated scenarios that replicate Premier League transitions and set-piece situations. Nutritionists and medical personnel have been tasked with ensuring recovery protocols keep the squad available and sharp. The club’s approach aims to deliver both physical resilience and tactical fluency as the season approaches.
Winning mentality begins in camp, says captain
Awoniyi underlined a psychological message that has been echoed across the squad: the standards of success are set during pre-season. He argued that the mental habits forged in training—work rate, resilience and competitive focus—are what enable teams to grind out results once league demands intensify. This message has been reinforced in squad meetings and on-pitch drills designed to reward concentration in marginal moments. Players described an environment where accountability and high expectations are emphasized daily.
Coaching staff have responded by converting training into competitive formats that mimic match pressure, insisting on repeatable behaviours under fatigue. The captain’s public remarks reflect an internal push to cultivate belief that small gains now will translate into points later. Club officials see the current intensity as a foundation for avoiding slow starts in the Premier League calendar. That mindset will be tested as the schedule tightens and rotation becomes necessary.
Dressing room cohesion and support staff impact
Members of the squad praised the harmony in camp and the role of support staff in creating a productive environment for rehabilitation and development. Medical and performance teams have been proactive in individualizing programs for players returning from injury, a point particularly relevant to Awoniyi’s recent progress. Coaches say the forward’s attitude in recovery and extra sessions has set a positive example for younger members. Team-building exercises and shared routines have contributed to a sense of purpose across senior and fringe players alike.
Off-field structures — from nutritional planning to recovery protocols — have been credited with shortening timelines for players returning to full involvement. Players highlighted clear communication from the coaching team about expectations and the rationale behind workload decisions. That clarity has helped manage morale during heavy training cycles and ensured players understand how minutes are allocated in friendlies. The combination of individual care and collective accountability is a clear theme emerging from the camp.
Tactical tweaks under Oliver Glasner
While fitness has dominated early preparations, Oliver Glasner’s coaching staff have also been using friendlies to refine formations and pressing triggers. Glasner has experimented with slight adjustments to attacking sequences and defensive transitions to improve fluidity without disrupting core principles. The coaching team has emphasized quick recovery of possession and coordinated pressing lines to force opponents into predictable channels. Attack drills have prioritized link-up play between number nine and supporting midfielders to maximize Awoniyi’s aerial and hold-up strengths.
Set-piece routines and zonal defensive responsibilities have been rehearsed repeatedly, reflecting the club’s desire to reduce avoidable errors that cost points in close Premier League contests. Glasner’s emphasis on collective work-rate and structured pressing patterns is designed to make Forest difficult to break down and lethal on the break. Players say the clarity of roles has helped accelerate understanding, allowing more advanced drills to be introduced as match minutes increase.
Upcoming fixtures and minutes management
Forest’s schedule includes another pre-season fixture against Vitória Sport Clube, a game the club intends to use to distribute minutes and build match sharpness across the squad. Coaching staff have reiterated that these games are opportunities to ensure squad depth receives competitive exposure ahead of the league opener. The plan is to continue rotating players, monitor recovery, and replicate scenarios that may arise during tight league and cup campaigns. The emphasis remains on balancing momentum with prudence to avoid overloading returning players.
Awoniyi has expressed a desire to maintain his recent form and to translate pre-season confidence into consistent competitive performances. With minutes distributed carefully, the forward is expected to continue building combinations with new and returning colleagues. The next friendly will provide another gauge of individual fitness, tactical comprehension and the squad’s ability to sustain intensity across 90 minutes. These controlled tests will shape selection decisions heading into the opening weeks of the Premier League season.
Forest supporters and club officials will be watching how pre-season returns convert to competitive resilience, especially given last season’s challenges with injuries and fluctuating form. The clean sheet and convincing win over Blackburn offer an early indication that the team’s preparation is on course. Continued progress in training and friendly results will determine whether the club’s aims for the 2026/27 campaign—stability, goals from the front and consistent defensive displays—can be realised.
Taiwo Awoniyi’s goal and captaincy in this friendly represent a tangible sign of his recovery and a message to the squad that the work being done now matters when the season begins.
