NOTTINGHAM Forest boss Steve Cooper was “really happy” to see Sam Surridge open his Premier League account after being booed whilst coming on in Saturday’s 1-1 draw- with Cherries.

Cherries academy graduate Surridge was brought off the bench to provide an equaliser for Forest seven minutes from time, after Jaidon Anthony struck in the first half to give Cherries the lead.

Surridge departed the Vitality Stadium in the summer of 2021, ending last campaign at Forest after initially joining Stoke City for £5.5million in August.

The Ferndown-raised striker’s goal was his first in the top flight, with his manager believing it to be a fitting story.

Cooper joked: “Booed on and booed off, hey?

“I say that respectfully, I’m sure there was no malice in that.

“For him to get his first Premier League goal at the club he started at and getting booed coming on the pitch is something I am really happy about – nobody deserves that moment more than him."

The Welshman then went on to explain how bit-part player Surridge, who has been limited to 235 minutes across 12 appearance in the Premier League this season, was well-liked in the Forest dressing room.

“We’re really fond of Sam,” continued the former Swansea manager.

“He’s been excellent since he’s come in.

“I can only say positive things about him.

“He works so hard, a really, really popular lad, a brilliant team-mate and has never let us down.

“I just pointed him out in the dressing room to everybody else and there was a bit of a round of applause for his first Premier League goal and that’s because everybody is so fond of him.”

Asked about being booed by BBC Match of the Day, a somewhat bemused Surridge replied: “For whatever reason they decided to boo me – it was just one of them.

“I spent a lot of years here, it was unfortunate.”