Feeling of unfairness fires Forest

FAR have they travelled and much have they screamed at the VAR clots who shaft them too often.

Nottingham Forest’s anthem Mull of Kintyre, No.1 at Christmas in

1977 for Paul McCartney and Wings, is English football’s most stirring call to arms.

But on a cruel sabbath by the Trent, for once it wasn’t the biggest noise in town.

Thousands of Forest fans drowned out the Premier League jingle before kick-off, making it clear — in no uncertain terms — how they feel about their points deduction and, arguably, a raw deal from refereeing decisions.

Yes, it was daft to issue that kneejerk club statement, with its undertones of conspiracy, immediately after the 2-0 defeat at Everton.

But among supporters outside the Big Six, there is a growing perception that a level playing field is available only to gilded corporations.

So while Forest’s top-flight status hangs in the balance after being docked four points, Manchester City still have 115 charges to answer and Premier League chief Richard Masters can only assure us their “case will resolve itself in the near future.”

Yet again, fortune deserted Forest when they needed a helping hand from providence. But this time, they also let the out-of-sorts champions off the hook.

Josko Gvardiol headed City in front when the Tricky Trees were down to 10 men with Neco Williams nursing a damaged hamstring off the field.

Contest

For 70 minutes Forest made a proper contest of it.

The City Ground soundtrack was exhilarating, even if one refrain from the militant wing in the main stand about the Premier League’s probity cannot be shared with a wider audience.

But at the club who have plenty to say for themselves, Nuno Espirito Santo’s programme notes were as expansive as ever — all 78 words of them.

In fairness to Nuno, even President Abraham Lincoln’s acclaimed Gettysburg Address was only 272 words long. Who needs a magnum opus?

Nuno took his seat in the dugout six minutes before kick-off, well before his players came out to face the music, but for long periods they called the tune.

If Forest play with such a burning sense of resentment over the last three games, they will stay up. Anything less and next season’s league roster will include Derby County.

In the end, they came up short against the team facing 115 charges. But after a quick count on European Cup wins, the score remains the same: Forest 2, City 1.