WHY BONG GOT CALL TO PLAY AT RIVERSIDE
BOSS Chris Hughton says Gaetan Bong’s fitness gave him the edge over Yuri Ribeiro when it came to picking the Nottingham Forest side to face Middlesbrough.
After sticking with the same back line for his first four games in charge, Nicholas Ioannou’s suspension forced the manager into a change as the Reds fell 1-0 at the Riverside Stadium.
Ribeiro has featured twice this season, with his only Championship appearance the 2-0 defeat to Cardiff City last month, while Sabri Lamouchi was still in charge.
Hughton says the Portuguese has been sidelined with an ankle injury and felt Bong had the edge, having played for the Reds’ Under-23s last week.
Bong’s sole run-out for Forest previously came shortly after he had signed in January but Hughton has worked with him before, at Brighton & Hove Albion.
“It was just a selection choice,” the Reds boss said.
“When I came in, Yuri had played one League game this season.
“He’s just come back from injury and has trained the last couple of days.
“On the balance of that, it was my selection based on where those players are at, at this moment.”
On Ribeiro, he added: “It was his ankle which kept him out for a couple of weeks. He’s been back for a couple of days’ training.
“On the balance of what I had, Gaetan played 90 minutes in an Under-23s game last week.
“That was what I based my choice on.”
The visitors were beaten by Marvin Johnson’s late volley, on an afternoon where they desperately struggled to create chances for themselves.
It was Forest’s first defeat since Hughton’s appointment, and leaves them struggling at the wrong end of the table.
“I thought Gaetan was part of a team which generally defended well,” Hughton said.
“My criticism of the team is not so much from a defensive point of view, it’s more those attacking moments and the moments we showed on the ball.
“I think Gaetan falls into that category with everybody else. Defensively, as a team, I was generally happy with what I saw.
“But offensively we need to do more.”