ALL QUIET ON THE COOPER FRONT...

Foxes boss still a hero to many Forest fans, but he won't say if he'll acknowledge them tonight

- NEIL MOXLEY

STEVE COOPER has refused to be drawn on whether he will acknowledge the Nottingham Forest fans tonight.

The Leicester City boss faces his former club for the first time since his sacking at the City Ground.

Cooper shared a close relationship with the Forest faithful, who remain grateful to the Welshman for leading them from the lower reaches of the Championship into the top flight.

He kept them there, too, but owed them a debt of gratitude during the same fixture two seasons ago.

Forest were losing 4-0 -heading for a fifth straight defeat - but the supporters stood squarely behind him, with 3,000 of them chanting his name in the visitors' enclosure at the King Power.

After that, he was not only publicly backed by the Forest hierarchy but also earned a new contract. That stability played a major part in Forest remaining in the top flight.