NUNO SHUTTING OUT THE ‘NOISE’

NOTTINGHAM FOREST boss Nuno Espirito Santo told his players: “Forget the noise – concentrate on the job.”

As news broke that Everton’s points penalty had been reduced on appeal, the Portuguese threw a verbal veil over it.

Forest moved down one place and are now a point behind the Toffees.

They are still waiting to hear the outcome of charges levelled against them for alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations.

That is expected to be handed down in the next couple of weeks – but the verdict from any appeal might not be announced until after the season ends, an outcome that could throw the Premier League into chaos.

Nuno insisted the situation was out of his control and said: “I cannot tell you much, we still have to wait. The decision still has to be made and we will see.

“My job is to prepare the team – to focus on what we have to do. Regarding the hearing and decision, we are waiting.

“There are people in our club taking care of that. Our focus has to be on our training, preparation, the games, our tasks.”

Asked if it was a situation that might help or hinder Forest, he added: “All the problems all clubs have… all the noise created is – for us – no object of analysis.

“What we focus upon is the players, how they do things. What’s the strength of the team?

“We look at what we can exploit – yes – but away from the pitch, we don’t focus on that.

“I don’t look at problems at our club away from the team.

“I look at what we can control as a coaching staff and players. This has to be our focus.”