Nottinghamshire

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BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray believes there is no cause for concern after contract talks between boss Vitor Pereira and Nottingham Forest were put on hold.

Pereira, who won eight of his 20 games in charge last season, has one-year left on his current contract.

"I am obviously not privy to the contract talks themselves," said Fray. "But from the information I have got, both parties are happy for the current situation to go on.

"As I understand it, these talks ending are not a suggestion that either Forest are unhappy with Vitor Pereira and looking to change again, or Vitor Pereira is unhappy. I don't think either is the case.

"There has been that little bit of interest in Pereira from Al Hilal, but he's not interested in that and has turned that down because he wants to stay at Forest. He's happy at Forest and he can see a future at Forest.

"It's hard to say exactly why they have come to this decision but it does seem both parties are happy with him going into next season on his current contract, which still has a year left to run."

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Nottingham Forest have endured - and enjoyed - some thrilling seasons since returning to the Premier League.

From survival to nearly qualifying for the Champions League to another battle against relegation, it has been an adventure.

Few would be forgiven for wanting a quiet season, one of anonymity almost, following the rollercoasters of the last few years.

Given last season's four managers and brush with relegation a comfortable mid-table season would perhaps be a useful and a chance for a the club to take a breath - although that will not be enough for owner Evangelos Marinakis.

• See Forest's full fixture list

Talks over Vitor Pereira's contract have been put on hold but both sides are relaxed and the expectation is they will resume towards the end of the year.

There should not be any speculation surrounding his position come the visit of Leeds on the opening game of the season on 22 August.

But, of course, if wins do not follow in games against Liverpool,Tottenham,Aston Villa and Coventry - before the extended international break in September and October - then it would naturally leave questions over his position - because of the nature of the departures over the past 12 months.

Last season started with a comfortable victory over Brentford but Forest then did not win in the league against until 9 November.

A good start is vital for Pereira himself and Forest overall.

David Jackson and Colin Fray discuss the World Cup, Vitor Pereira's future and the 2026-27 fixtures in the latest episode of BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up and Show More Football podcast.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

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Nottingham Forest will play Leeds United on the opening weekend of the Premier League campaign.

Last season, both sides won their respective home games 3-1.

The Whites have only faced Nottingham Forest in their opening league game of the season once before; they won 1-0 in 1991-92 under Howard Wilkinson, winning the top-flight title that campaign.

However, Nottingham Forest in the top flight are unbeaten in 14 against the Whites at the City Ground (W7 D7) since losing 2-0 in 1971-72.

• Read more on the matches and rule changes for 2026-27

Nottingham Forest will kick off their 2026-27 Premier League campaign - a first full season under Vitor Pereira - with a home game against Leeds United.

The match will take place on Saturday, 22 August at 15:00 BST, with Forest's first away fixture against Liverpool on the weekend of 29-30 August.

Pereira's side face Manchester United (A), Newcastle United (A), Fulham (H) and Hull City (H) over the Christmas and New Year period.

And they end their league season against Coventry City at Coventry Building Society Arena on Sunday, 30 May, when all games will kick off at the same time.

See Forest's Premier League fixtures in full here

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With the countdown to the 2026-27 Premier League fixture release well and truly on, we asked for your stories of opening-day games - both good and bad - that have stuck in your minds most. And you delivered.

Here are some of your replies:

Mark: My memory is from 17 August 1996. It was Coventry City 0-3 Nottingham Forest, thanks to a Kevin Campbell hat-trick. The season looked so bright, but it was one of just six Premier League wins that season. We ended up bottom of the table.

Dave: I remember going to watch Forest play at the old Highfield Road for my 13th birthday with my old man. The Reds smashed Coventry 3-0 on a beautiful sunny day. It was the first of many road trips to come.

Arthur: Southend away in 1993 - the first away match of the new season when we were relegated. The match was on a Sunday, thousands of Forest fans went down the night before, however there wasn't enough hotels rooms so we ended up sleeping in the car. The night out in Southend was brilliant - every pub and nightclub was full of Forest fans. There were so many that the police had to draft in reinforcements. The game was completely sold out and Teddy Sheringham was actually sitting with the Forest fans during the game. A cracking weekend away. Great memories.

Gary: Losing at Coventry 2-1 on the opening day of the 2021-22 season. They scored the winning goal in the 96th minute. Here we go again, we all thought - same old, same old. But we went on to win the Championship play-off final. Dreamland.

Jack: The very best opening-day memory was Everton away on 20 August 1977. Every pundit had written us off before the season had even started. Wasn't it Bob Wilson with the "flash in the pan" remark? And, oh dear, we had the temerity to finish as champions and then win the European Cup - twice, in case anyone's forgotten.

Come back to this page at 10:00 BST to see how the Reds' 2026-27 Premier League fixtures have fallen.

Tottenham have opened talks over a deal for Germany Under-21 forward Said El Mala from Cologne and hope to beat Newcastle and Nottingham Forest to the 19-year-old's signature. (Teamtalk), external

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