Nottingham Forest manager Vitor Pereira has heaped praise on Elliot Anderson, stating the midfielder deserves 'the top of the world' following his influential performance against former club Newcastle United on Sunday. Anderson, who joined Forest from Newcastle in a permanent deal last summer, scored one of Forest's two goals in a significant 2-1 victory at St James' Park.
The 21-year-old midfielder opened the scoring for Forest in the 28th minute, netting against the club where he spent his formative years in their academy. His goal set the tone for a resilient Forest display, with the visitors ultimately securing a vital three points that significantly boosts their Premier League survival hopes and inflicts a blow on Newcastle's push for European qualification.
Pereira, speaking after the match, expressed his admiration for Anderson's talent and development. "Elliot is a fantastic player. He has a lot of quality, a lot of passion, and he always gives everything for the team," Pereira commented. "He deserves the top of the world because he works so hard and has such a good mentality. To come back here and score against his old club shows his character."
Anderson's goal was his second of the season for Forest, and his performance underlined why the club invested in him. The result leaves Newcastle in a precarious position, currently sitting 8th in the Premier League table with 40 points, five points adrift of the European qualification spots. Forest, meanwhile, moved up to 15th position with 29 points, creating a crucial gap between themselves and the relegation zone.
The midfielder's departure from Newcastle last summer was a move aimed at securing more regular first-team football, a decision that appears to be paying dividends for both Anderson and Nottingham Forest. His development under Pereira has been steady, and performances like Sunday's highlight his growing influence in the Premier League.
For Newcastle, the defeat marks another setback in a season that has seen them struggle for consistency, particularly at home. Their hopes of returning to European competition next season now face a more challenging path, with several other clubs vying for those coveted positions.
Source: Nottingham Forest FC