NOTTINGHAM Forest head coach Steve Cooper admits he “never thought” his side would concede during their 1-0 victory over Saints.

Nathan Jones’s charges failed to register a single shot on target as the Tricky Trees battled for a first away win of their return season in the Premier League.

Che Adams had a golden opportunity to open the scoring in the first 10 minutes but fired wide with time inside the area.

Saints had over 60 per cent of the ball from there on but failed to respond adaqueately after Lyanco gifted a goal to Taiwo Awoniyi.

And speaking after the clash, Cooper reflected: “It was a really challenging game and initially didn’t start too well, giving up a chance that was completely our own fault and we got away with it.

“Brennan (Johnson) missed a chance equally as good if you like but I thought after that we were much the better team in the first half and looked a bigger threat,” he said.

“We were good for the 1-0 and at half-time it was just about keeping going, but it didn’t quite look like that with the balls coming in and we had to respect that and match that.

“I never thought we would concede. I know it’s an easy thing to say now but we were comfortable in the game in terms of defending and Dean (Henderson) has not had any saves to make.”

Saints looked most dangerous through James Ward-Prowse’s corner deliveries, which were often on the money but failed to be met by the rising Saints heads.

The captain also had a good chance from a direct free-kick, after scoring his first of the season last time out at Fulham, but he fired over.

“Set-pieces are always going to be a threat with James Ward-Prowse, who is right up there with the best ever in his delivery, and we had to respect that and did,” Cooper said.

“We weren’t under the cosh in the second half, we didn’t have the ball but weren’t under the cosh – I thought we would get a second. But one was enough.”

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