Paul Merson backs Taiwo Awoniyi to seal Nottingham Forest Premier League survival

By Saheed Afolabi

Former Arsenal star, Paul Merson have thrown his weight behind Taiwo Awoniyi to use his influence in guaranteeing Nottingham Forest stay in the English Premier League.

The Forest kept their survival hopes alive as they came from behind to grab a valuable point in a 2-2 draw against Chelsea, with the Super Eagles forward, Awoniyi netting a brace at the Stanford Brigde.

And the former Arsenal midfielder is tipping him to guide Nottingham Forest to safety, after lauding the Nigerian contributions and instinct in the face of his side’s survival battle.

“For Forest to go 2-1 down and draw 2-2, it’s a massive, massive point,” Merson was quoted by Complete Sports.

“Awoniyi, who scored the two goals, was a threat. He held the ball up well. I saw him the other week playing away from home and he was taken off, he didn’t do well.

“Now he (Awoniyi) looks a handful, he’s holding it up and playing it simple and scored two goals. They were simple.

“With him playing like that with a couple of games left, I’d be quite shocked if Forest went down from here. To come back with that away record is very, very good.”

The Tricky Trees will play host to Arsenal on the Saturday May 20 at the 30,332 City Ground stadium.

Nottingham Forest seat on the 16th position on the Premier League log and accumulating 34 points from 36 matches and are three points above the relegation waters.