For this Albion fan, watching Forest brings back memories

There has been something odd and frankly surreal about covering the occasional Nottingham Forest match for an Albion fan this season. 

Watching a suited and booted Chris Hughton standing on the touchline, Glenn Murray leading the line, Anthony Knockaert going through his Youtube showreel and Gaetan Bong firing in the crosses…

It's déjà vu, right? What's actually going on is that I have been transported back through time and this is the Championship promotion-winning Brighton team of the 2016-17 campaign in action. 

But no. Four Amex stalwarts that will forever be part of this club's history and folklore for their huge contribution are now gathered together in the east Midlands. 

The last time I saw them this season, Forest even had the decency to play in blue at Brentford, surely a nod to higher powers. 

The manager and players may be slightly older, but they haven't changed so much. Hughton is still immaculately dressed, calm, composed and honest as he sets about organising his side and then answering questions about his team’s display. 

Murray, though his time left as a player may be shortening is as much of a trusty war horse up front as ever he was. At Wycombe, early on after his move to Forest, he proved the match-winner. 

An expertly executed lob over the goalkeeper that a younger striker might have snatched at, and then a penalty won by inviting a clumsy challenge and then smashed home, all brought back memories. 

There was familiarity, too, about the way in which French winger Knockeart scored a brilliant third goal at Wycombe, taken with great elan and aplomb. 

Feinting and cutting back onto the other foot five times to twist the defender inside out before delivering the cross is also still very much part of the repertoire. 

And at Brentford left back Bong delivered what was in many ways a performance that perfectly encapsulated both his skills and periodic mishaps that from time to time divided fan opinion at Brighton. 

He clumsily fouled the prolific Ivan Toney to concede an early penalty, could easily have given away another one, then kept Forest in the game with a brilliant block before delivering the cross that set up the equaliser to earn his team a point.  

Hughton’s Brighton reign, of course, began at Brentford in the FA Cup. Off work that January Saturday in 2015, I bought a ticket in the home end to witness a new dawn, the away terrace as usual being sold out. 

After being battered for the whole match, two goals in the last three minutes earned a smash and grab win. Even Chris O'Grady scored. 

The fact that these former Albion players are only too happy to play once more for Hughton speaks volumes about his character and man management ability. 

I will never have anything but the greatest respect and admiration for Hughton, the journey he took us on, and success he achieved for and with the club. So many fond memories. 

I did just think it was the right decision by the board to make a change when they did in what must have been the hardest borderline call Tony Bloom and Paul Barber have ever been involved in. 

But I am delighted to see him back managing a big club in the Championship. We will never forget, and Hughton would never have to buy a drink again in Brighton. 

Speaking after the game at Wycombe, Murray – scorer of 111 goals for Brighton – said: “I still had to come in and prove myself. Just because I played for the manager before and did well, that doesn’t mean anything.  

“You are judged on performances, so I have to train properly and score goals when I get given the chance to. Chris Hughton has got the best out of me, we have been successful before.   

“There is belief and trust there. His belief I will score goals doesn't waiver and there is trust in me as a professional over my body and fitness. Him being at Forest was a huge factor coming here, Chris is one of the only managers I would have moved for.” 

It has been a genuine boon to see them again this season, and a reminder of the sterling efforts of these four and so many others in Brighton getting to the level they are at today.