'We could and should have more points' - Cooper

Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper says his side "never look for excuses" regarding injuries and are focused on Saturday's visit of Brighton.

Cooper will be without striker Taiwo Awoniyi who is unavailable for "months" with a groin injury and Callum Hudson-Odoi, who has just began his rehab from a thigh problem.

Anthony Elanga, Murillo and Danilo are all also doubts for Saturday.

"We never look for excuses, we will never dwell on it," Cooper said pre-match.

"We will focus on the players who will be available and that's where our attention lies whilst supporting the guys who are injured."

Forest sit 14th with 13 points from 12 games, but Cooper is aware of the progress his side have made since their return to the top-flight last season.

"I'm sitting here now knowing that we could and should have more points and we missed a couple of good opportunities to take points, but I also know that this time last season we were bottom of the league," he added.

"Let's have the motivation to keep trying to improve and pick up more points than what we might have done last season, but also don't get too carried away and lose sight of where we've come from and where we're at.

"We've got to be ready, they [Brighton] have got some really good players playing in the brand of football they play and we are aware of that, but we want the most influencing factor of the game to be on our contribution and on what we do.

"If we're trying to become something and be a certain way, it's on us to do that and you only do that by sticking to a set of principles week in, week out."