We need to be more creative, says boss
CHRIS Hughton bemoaned the one crucial decision in Nottingham Forest’s defeat at Bournemouth on Tuesday night he believed ‘killed’ his side’s chances of picking up a result.
Junior Stanislas netted in either half as the Cherries eventually saw off a Forest side who toiled for large periods of the game without hurting their hosts when in possession.
It was Stanislas’ second goal, shortly after the restart and from the penalty spot, that Hughton took exception with.
Captain Jack Colback was deemed to have fouled Dominic Solanke inside the area, though replays suggested that the first contact between the players lay outside of the box. Still, referee Simon Hooper pointed to the spot and Stanislas took full advantage.
Midfielder Harry Arter, back at his old haunt, was booked after the final whistle for his protests when confronting the officials. Hughton understands those frustrations - because he shares them.
“My opinion having seen it is that you cannot give it,” Hughton reasoned. “I think the initial contact is outside the box, and I think that even if - because I know, having spoken to a lot of people, and some think yes and some think no - if there’s that, you can’t give it.
“If the initial contact is outside the box and there’s a little bit of a grey area, I think you have to err on the side of caution. For me it shouldn’t have been given.
“It’s difficult enough when you’re 1-0 down here, against the quality they’ve got, but when you are fighting to get back into the game, which we were - and I can’t accuse the players of not having a go, because we were - the second goal kills us.
“When that happens and there’s that frustration from everybody on our team, I think it’s normal. I’ll say it again, when there’s that grey area I think you can’t give it.”
That point of contention aside, Hughton was fully in agreement that his outfit didn’t do enough in the final third to cause high flying Bournemouth enough worries.
Ryan Yates headed over and Sammy Ameobi tested Asmir Begovic from range, but ultimately there wasn’t enough intricacy in the final third and there was always a sense that centre halves Chris Mepham and Steve Cook were comfortable.
That’s where Forest fell down, while their opponents - who boast a squad packed still with Premier League quality - duly punished them at the other end.
“I thought we had a lot of the ball, but we weren’t able to do enough with it,” Hughton admitted. “The important stat they got was the two-goal lead. But I remember our keeper making one good save - apart from that he hasn’t had a save to make, against the best offensive team in the division.
“Were we creative enough? No, not for the amount of ball we had, particularly in that last half hour in the final third. We didn’t work their goalkeeper anywhere near enough.”