WONDER WOODS BOOSTS THE SANTO CAUSE

Striker has forest fans dreaming like it's 1979

- IAN WHITTELL

CHRIS WOOD and Morgan Gibbs-White had Forest fans ringing in the New Year like it was 1979 as their side moved up to second in the table.

The Kiwi's superb first-half finish, along with an equally emphatic Gibbs-White effort after the break, made it five straight wins for their in-form team, their best run for 30 years.

Forest fans of an older vintage will glance at the table this morning, see their team trailing only Liverpool at the top... and wonder if they have woken up in 1979, when that's how those two clubs finished.

The league title may well be beyond their grasp, and boss Nuno Espirito Santo refuses even to dwell on the chances of finishing top four and reaching the Champions League.

Yet that target looks highly realistic after a sensational first half of the season has Forest riding high.

The opening goal summed up the free-flowing and confident style that Forest are exhibiting, no-one more than Wood, as he netted his 11th of the campaign.

It came from a brilliant pass from Gibbs-White and a clever header from Wood for team-mate Anthony Elanga.