After learning from their first season back in the Premier League, Sarah Clapson of Nottinghamshire Live believes that Nottingham Forest are now looking to push on under Steve Cooper this season.

Having finished 16th in the top flight last term - their first campaign in the division since 1999 - the east Midlanders invested in their squad again over the summer, which has already led to improved results and performances.

Nottingham Forest sit 12th in the Premier League table going into Saturday’s game, having lost 2-0 to Manchester City in their most recent outing. What have you made of their campaign to date?

It has been really encouraging and quite a positive start.

The results have not always necessarily matched the performances, though; against Arsenal, Manchester United and maybe even against [Manchester] City you could argue that Forest deserved more than what they got.

They have certainly looked better on the road than they did last season and, once they get going with their away form, they will be able to build on that win at Chelsea.

They have had a really tough run of away fixtures, but they have come through it and there is a general feeling of positivity and optimism.

A lot of players changed again in the summer, so it is a case of getting those new players integrated, gelling, and used to playing in the Premier League. You can see some of them are still finding their feet a little bit and the manager is having to work out his best team but, so far, there are encouraging signs about what the rest of the season might hold.

At this point last season, Forest were in the relegation zone. With that first top-flight season in the bag, does it feel as though things are more settled overall than they were last season?

Forest learned a lot from last season. There has been change in terms of personnel in the squad, but there are players who were at the club last season and they will have learned a lot and the manager will have also learned a lot - the whole feeling around the club has built on last season.

It was a real eye-opener for everyone, being back in the Premier League after so long, and it took a while for everything and everyone to adjust. But I think they are better for the lessons learned and the experiences they had last year.

There is more strength in depth, so they look better equipped to cope with the Premier League. That’s the aim - they want to progress.

Albeit not quite at the same level as last year, there was still a fair bit of transfer business completed by the club in the summer. What did you make of that?

On paper, at least, it was really impressive. They have brought some really good players in and, at the start of the summer, if you had said it would be an impressive window, but Forest would sell Brennan Johnson, you would have been a bit sceptical about it because he was such a big player and such a talent.

But if you look at the players they brought in, as much as it was a real shame to lose Johnson, Forest look better as a squad than they did last season and at the start of the summer.

They have got options all over the pitch and players with experience, but they have also got a lot of youth and there is a lot of pace in the side.

Callum Hudson-Odoi looks like an absolute bargain if the manager can get him back to his best - and if anybody can do that, it is going to be Steve Cooper because he knows him and he is good with young players.

Which player should Brentford fans keep an eye on?

Taiwo Awoniyi has started the season fantastically. He ended last season in terrific goalscoring form and he has just kept that going, really.

He looks a lot leaner and sharper than he did last season, and he has just got his momentum going. He has already scored three goals and, when he has not been scoring, he has chipped in with a couple of assists.

He has been a real handful and it is just a case of providing chances for him; if Forest can do that, you get the feeling he has at least a goal in him.

How is Steve Cooper likely to set up at the City Ground?

He changed formation against Manchester City and returned to three at the back but, in the previous game, he went with a four and I think he will probably stick with that again.

Cooper is really keen for them to be flexible in formation, adaptable and versatile and they have already shown that. Against Man City, they wanted to pack the midfield and be more defensively solid, but the aim this year is to improve the style of play.

Last season, they did what they needed to do in certain games; it was not necessarily pretty or great to watch, but they tried to get results and there was a feeling compromises needed to be made just to stay in the league.

This season, Cooper has been really keen for them to progress as a club, but also in terms of the style of play and being more attack-minded.

With the players they have brought in, like Anthony Elanga and Hudson-Odoi, and with Morgan Gibbs-White still in the team, there is a real attacking threat there and they have got a decent base to build on. They will try to get on the front foot and use their pace, and they can play counter-attacking football for that reason.

I think he will probably switch to a 4-2-3-1 for the visit of Brentford because that seems to be the root he wants to go down.

Meetings between Brentford and Forest are rarely dull occasions; the two sides drew the first Premier League meeting last year, with the Bees winning the return fixture 2-1. What’s your score prediction?

I think it will be another good game. At home last season, Forest were a real force and they will try to keep that going. The players will feed off the atmosphere.

There will be goals there, probably for both teams, and Forest will fancy themselves, so I will go for a 2-1 Forest win.