Forest fury after late blow
HOME SIDE ROCK SOLID AT BACK AGAINST LEADERS UNTIL CONTROVERSIAL FINISH
THE response of Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo said it all after the full-time whistle had been met with fury at the City Ground.
“I will not comment on the referee. I will NOT comment on the referee,” the Portuguese stressed.
Nuno didn’t need to comment. The angry and chaotic scenes postmatch spoke volumes. The Reds were seething. And they put forward former referee Mark Clattenburg, who is employed by the club in an advisory role and had watched from the stands, to explain why they had every right to be.
For 98 minutes, Forest were rock solid at the back. They fought, they created chances and they played well against a Liverpool side with eyes on the Premier League title. But on one moment, the game turned. The Reds know they should have done better around their penalty area before the ball reached Darwin Nunez, but they were fuming that play unfolded in the manner it did in the first place.
■■Refereeing ‘clanger’
Callum Hudson-odoi had the ball on the left flank when play was stopped for a potential head injury to Ibrahima Konate in the 97th minute of the game. But rather than ensuring Forest had possession when the match resumed, referee Paul Tierney restarted with the ball at the feet of Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
“The law is clear that if the ball is outside the penalty area, you get possession back and the other team goes back one metre,” Clattenburg explained. “Under the laws of the game, the team that has possession when the referee blows the whistle to stop the game - which he is entitled to do because there is a potential head injury - the ball goes back to that team and the other team retreat one metre.”
Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer said it was a “big clanger” by Tierney. Jermaine Jenas called it “shocking”.
It set in motion the passage of play which led to the winner. The goal did not come immediately and the hosts certainly had chances to clear when the decisive corner came in.
They should have done better. But those final minutes still could have unfolded differently had the Reds been given the ball back.
It adds to a list of refereeing and VAR decisions the club argue have gone against them this season.
■■Full-time fury
That Nunez’s header came in the 99th minute, when eight additional minutes had been indicated, only rubbed salt in Forest’s very sore wound. And it sparked chaotic scenes at the end.
Some players collapsed to the turf, clearly crestfallen, but there was unmistakable anger on the touchline.
Defender Felipe was booked for protesting to Tierney and was pulled back by fellow unused substitute Matt Turner. Coach Steven Reid was shown a red card for making his feelings clear.
Owner Evangelos Marinakis was pitchside, too. The club have dismissed suggestions he “chased” the referee down the tunnel and had to be restrained by security.
Marinakis did go down the tunnel but one observer described him as being “calm”. He is said to have tried to question the officials about the circumstances leading to Liverpool’s goal, but they made their way into the referee’s room. The Greek then stopped outside the Forest dressing room to ask midfielder Nicolas Dominguez about the knock he picked up during the game, and that was followed by a brief chat with Clattenburg.
“The owner is quite upset because they fought,” Clattenburg said. “He has invested a lot of money in the football club and he wants to see results. He feels another decision has gone against the football club. Quite rightly, he’s upset.”
■■Missed chances
What happened at the end of the match overshadowed what had been a good performance by Nuno’s men.
They deserved at least a point from the game, and they could have had more.
Nuno spoke about a “repeat situation” in that sense. As was the case on Wednesday night against Manchester United in the FA Cup, his team were left to rue missed chances after conceding a late goal.
“Not taking chances and getting punished in the end,” the Forest boss said.
Anthony Elanga will no doubt still be reliving the two opportunities he had. Divock Origi went close, Morgan Gibbs-white had a shot blocked and Hudson-odoi tried his luck.
The Reds were not just let down by the finishing, though. Sometimes it was their decision-making or a final pass not being quite right.
Nuno has got Forest playing some nice football. It was a big call to start with Taiwo Awoniyi on the bench on Saturday, with Elanga in a central role and Origi on the right.
But the hosts caused Liverpool problems, particularly on the counter-attack.
There is the possibility Chris Wood will make his comeback from injury against Brighton & Hove
Albion next weekend, which will provide another option up front. The New Zealander is the Reds’ top scorer in the League with eight goals, and they will be hoping he is able to add a few more to that tally.
■■A big month ahead
There is no getting away from Forest’s precarious position in the table. They are 17th, four points above third-bottom Luton Town. They also have the threat of a potential points deduction hanging over them.
March didn’t start how the Reds would have wanted it to. But how the rest of the month pans out could be crucial.
This coming Thursday and Friday, the club will face an independent commission as they begin their defence against breaching financial rules.
A verdict on the hearing is not expected until April, leaving Nuno’s side needing to pick up as many points as they can before then.
They need results. They have been putting in good performances in recent weeks but haven’t necessarily got what they deserved from them. Their next few games are crucial.
Next weekend they will travel to Brighton, then there is a crunch clash with Luton at Kenilworth Road, followed by home matches against Crystal Palace and Fulham.
Nuno has got players playing well. On Saturday, Mats Selz impressed in goal, while the centre-back partnership of Andrew Omobamidele and Murillo was excellent.
Dominguez and Ryan Yates worked tirelessly in midfield, and Forest had positive moments going forward.
There was also the encouraging sight of Ibrahim Sangare on the bench, and Willy Boly could join Wood in being available again next week.
Forest’s sense of “injustice”, as Clattenburg put it, is unlikely to have dissipated much by then; it will sting for some time.
The priority is to ensure Saturday’s result doesn’t prove to be costly come the end of the season.