Nottingham Forest' players celebrate getting to the play-off final
Nottingham Forest are just one win away from returning to the Premier League after a 23-year absence

The definition of a football miracle has been added to by the fact thatNottingham Forest have been at the bottom of the table for the best part of a century.

In the first 52 days of the Championship campaign, the Reds were in the bottom three.

Chris Hughton paid the price for the poor start with his job as a result of his proven promotion credentials.

In mid-September, Steve Cooper became the head coach. Forest were transformed from that moment on.

After that, the Reds picked up more points than any other team in the second tier, as they surged up the table to claim a play-off spot.

Even the most ardent Forest fan wouldn't have entertained the idea that their side would head to Wembley for the first time in 30 years and be just 90 minutes away from a return to the top flight.

Those on the banks of the River Trent are well versed in the miracle rises of the past, having gone from the old Second Division in 1977 to win the English title a year later, before going on to win back-to-back European Cups under the late, great Brian Clough.

Ahead of Forest's Championship play-off final against Huddersfield on Sunday, the club's latest remarkable season was looked at by the BBC.

Forest's 'sorry' start to season

Brennan Johnson in action for Nottingham Forest against Coventry on the opening day of the season
Nottingham Forest lost their opening game of the season to Coventry City
Morgan Gibbs-White of Wolverhampton Wanderers scores his team's fourth against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup
Nottingham Forest were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Premier League side Wolves in August
Tom Lawrence of Derby County scores against Nottingham Forest
A goal from Tom Lawrence put Forest's fierce rivals Derby County ahead in the first East Midlands derby of the season
Brennan Johnson and his Nottingham Forest team-mates celebrate his equaliser against Derby County
A late Brennan Johnson goal salvaged a draw against Derby and earned Forest their first point of the season

Oh dear, here we go again.

It was only the first day of the season, but the Reds were out of ideas and energy as they were beaten by the City.

Forest hit the back of the net less than the three sides that were demoted that season.

The tone of disappointment heard in the voice of the Forest great was to be repeated for much of the next two months.

The only point they got in the first seven league games was from a draw with Wayne Rooney's Derby County. It was a late effort.

Middlesbrough's James Lea Siliki chases the ball against Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest lost their first four home league games of the season, going down to Bournemouth, Blackburn, Cardiff and Middlesbrough
Chris Hughton in his final game in charge of Nottingham Forest against Middlesbrough
Chris Hughton with his head in his hands during the defeat against Boro, which proved to be his final match in charge of Forest

Colin Fray, a commentator for the radio station, described the 2-0 loss by Forest to Middlesbrough as a "sorry night".

Thousands of fans abandoned their seats before the full-time whistle, but one supporter made his voice heard after the match as he yelled his disapproval at Forest's directors box.

Steve Hodge, a former Forest and England player, said his former side looked frightening, lacked trust, and were vulnerable.

Hughton was proved to be wrong a day later.

Without a manager and bereft of hope, Forest were the bottom of the Championship.

No team in history that had been in this position before had finished higher than 14th.

Cooper would change that.

Cooper transforms Forest

Cooper was brought in by Forest despite the fact that he left the club in July after their Championship play-off final defeat.

It has proved to be the shrewdest piece of business done by the club in the 21st century.

He oversaw four wins in his first five games. He had a perfect record in his first 15 matches, but his only loss was to the title winners.

Lewis Grabban
Caretaker manager Steven Reid guided Nottingham Forest to their first Championship win of the season against Huddersfield Town before Steve Cooper was appointed
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper celebrates after Barnsley win
Nottingham Forest's first win under Steve Cooper was at Barnsley on 29 September, which took the Reds out of the relegation places
Lyle Taylor celebrates scoring twice against Bristol City for Nottingham Forest
Two goals after the 90th minute from Lyle Taylor - who would eventually go out on loan to Birmingham City - earned Forest a stunning comeback victory at Bristol City

When Forest conjured a dramatic three points against Bristol City in late October, thanks to 91st and 92nd-minute goals from Lyle Taylor, former defender Brian Laws saw a massive change in attitude.

Laws asked how many times they had spoken about Forest when they had tied the game.

The "never-say-die" attitude was to become a theme, as an injury-time Jack Colback goal at Queens Park Rangers and a late Lewis Grabban strike saved points.

After a run of five draws in six games, a late show with goals from Ryan Yates and James Garner earned them three points at the start of December.

Cooper returned to south Wales as Forest beat his former side Swansea 4-1 a week later and vaulted them into the top half of the table for the first time.

Lewis Grabban celebrates his goal for Nottingham Forest against Swansea City
When Forest beat Cooper's former side Swansea in December, striker Lewis Grabban scored his ninth goal of the season - he would only find the back of the net four more times in an campaign curtailed by injury
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper celebrates with his trademark punch to the air
Steve Cooper's air punches at the end of each victory have become a trademark part of the season
Nottingham Forest Djed Spence in action against Derby County
Djed Spence, on loan from Middlesbrough, has been one of the side's most industrious and influential figures
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper looks at the Brian Clough trophy
Nottingham Forest's win against Derby in January means they will keep hold of Brian Clough Trophy for a while after the financially-troubled Rams were relegated to League One

Liverpool's 'European night' in Nottingham

The new year started with a bang, as Forest bundled out of the competition 14-time FA Cup winners.

In the first meeting between the two rivals in almost eight years, the Reds were next to eliminate the holders. Rodgers said the 4-1 loss was embarrassing.

Alan Shearer, a former England captain, said on the radio that it felt like the Forest had something good going on.

They reached the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 20 years, getting past the Terriers.

The hosts were beaten by the cup winners in a tie that they felt they could have won. The atmosphere was so captivating that he was left in awe.

The crowd celebrated like they scored a goal after each challenge they won. It felt like a European night.

Lewis Grabban scores for Nottingham Forest against Arsenal in the FA Cup
Nottingham Forest started 2022 by beating Arsenal 1-0 in the FA Cup, with the only goal of the game coming from Lewis Grabban
Joe Worrall
Captain Joe Worrall, who scored Nottingham Forest's third goal against Leicester, was playing for the first time after missing three matches with a broken rib
Nottingham Forest v Huddersfield in the fifth round of the FA Cup
Forest beat Huddersfield - who they face in the Championship play-off final - in the fifth round of the FA Cup
Jota celebrates Liverpool's winner against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup quarter-finals
Diogo Jota scored the winner for Liverpool in their FA Cup quarter-final against Forest
Nottingham Forest fans watch on during the FA Cup game against Liverpool
Forest supporters drew praise from Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp

'Phenomenal' Forest challenge for automatic promotion

Laws said teams couldn't live with Cooper's side as their revival picked up pace during the cup run.

The former full-back, who twice won the League Cup with the club, said the 3-1mauling of Queens Park Rangers in March wasphenomenal.

The Reds didn't move into the play-off places until April after one week in the top six.

Brennan Johnson does his 'Robin Hood' goal celebration after scoring against Blackpool
Brennan Johnson's Robin Hood-style bow and arrow pose has became a signature goal celebration since he first did it against Blackpool in April
Forest's Jack Colback scores a sensational goal against West Brom
Jack Colback made a claim for Forest's goal of the season, and possibly the best ever seen at the City Ground, when he scored against West Brom with an outrageous dipping volley from a tight angle outside the box
Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic shrugs after missing a chance against Nottingham Forest
Forest beat Fulham 1-0 at Craven Cottage in April to put themselves in contention for automatic promotion, as Bournemouth drew with Swansea on the same night

Nine wins in 10 league games in that time saw the Reds gatecrash the automatic promotion race.

The idea that Forest could go straight up was ended in their final game, as Bournemouth won a high-stakes clash at home to seal their return to the top flight.

Laws said that Forest were getting a taste of what Bournemouth had tonight. They have to do it at Wembley.

It took a penalty shoot-out and the goalkeeping heroics of Brice Samba to get to the national stadium.

Cooper has been praised as Forest boss for the journey from a miserable beginning to unexpected heights.

The comparisons with Clough are the highest praise that has been given.

Cooper shares a similar football philosophy with his former boss, says a two-time European Cup winner.

Brian used to say, "I don't care what you can't do, only what you can do."

The players that were there with one point to now are just incredible because Steve has put that slogan into them. It looks like he has given them a chance to express themselves and do what they do well.

Nottingham Forest's Sam Surridge scoring against Swansea
Forward Sam Surridge, a January arrival from Stoke, has contributed a number of crucial goals - including a hat-trick against Swansea
Nottingham Forest's Steve Cook with a bloodied head against Bournemouth
Steve Cook left Bournemouth during the January transfer window and has brought great experience to Forest's backline
Brennan Johnson scores against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane
Brennan Johnson emulated his father, David, when he scored against Sheffield United in their play-off semi-final first leg at Bramall Lane
Brennan Johnson celebrates scoring in the second leg against Sheffield United
And just as David Johnson did in 2003, Brennan also scored in the second leg - the difference was that Forest progressed to the final this time
Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Brice Samba saves a penalty kick from Oliver Norwood
Brice Samba produced goalkeeping heroics in the penalty shootout against Sheffield United to send Forest to Wembley after the semi-final tie finished 3-3 on aggregate
Pitch invasion at the City Ground
Forest fans celebrated getting to Wembley by flooding onto the City Ground pitch after the penalty shootout win against Sheffield United