If players block out the noise, Nuno sure Forest will survive
Nuno Espirito Santo is confident Nottingham Forest will stay up despite dropping into the Premier League relegation zone after their points deduction.
The club were last week docked four points for breaching Premier League profitability and sustainability rules (PSR), a penalty they are appealing against.
It left Forest, victorious in only one of their last nine league games, 18th in the table with nine matches to go, a point behind Luton Town and four adrift of 16th-placed Everton, who could be hit with a PSR-related deduction for a second time this term.
But Nuno is still confident Forest will beat the drop. “The way we work, the way we play, the togetherness, the commitment of the players – I see it every day and that’s why I’m so confident,” he said.
Nuno, whose side host Crystal Palace tomorrow, said his players needed to “forget about everything and focus on our tasks”.
He added: “Now we know the reality is that we’re in the relegation zone. Who are we to say that is fair or unfair? We have to focus on what we have to do on the pitch.
This is the message: forget about everything, focus on our tasks so we get out of this.
“It’s in our hands, it’s up to us to reverse the situation and that is to get points on the pitch. What we have to do is stick together, everyone at the club. Our fans are going to be huge for us, starting on Saturday.”
There was another punishment for Forest this week as they were fined £75,000 by the FA for their behaviour after the defeat to Liverpool earlier this month, with coach
Steven Reid handed a two-match touchline ban and fined £5,000.
Forest were incensed after referee Paul Tierney did not return the ball to them after a head injury to Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konaté, the Reds going on to score a stoppage-time winner. Reid called Tierney a c*** on at least three occasions, according to the written reasons of an independent commission.
Nuno said: “It was a very difficult moment for everybody in the City Ground, very emotional, hard to control your feelings. But Steve feels really sorry, he apologised to everybody, but he’s a very, very nice person and of huge importance for us. We are all aware we have to control our emotions – but it’s hard sometimes.”
The Premier League have apologised after Forest’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur was moved forward from Monday 8 to Sunday 7 April at short notice last night, owing to London Underground and train strikes.
Steve feels really sorry. We are all aware we have to control our emotions – but it’s hard sometimes.”