Forest’s losing run goes on as own goal does damage

NUNO’S MEN CAN’T FIND LEVELLER AT THE AMEX

NOTTINGHAM Forest’s losing streak extended to four games in all competitions as they fell 1-0 away to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League yesterday.

The Reds started positively as Neco Williams had a shot blocked from a free-kick which was wellearned by Divock Origi inside the opening five minutes.

But they soon found themselves on the back foot as the Seagulls got a grip on the game.

Forest struggled to keep hold of the ball for much of the first half. Visiting keeper Matz Sels thwarted efforts from Simon Adingra and Jakub Moder either side of a Carlos Baleba strike which whistled narrowly wide.

A goal looked to be coming, though. And it duly arrived just before the half hour when Andrew Omobamidele got the unfortunate last touch from a free kick to put the ball into his own net.

However, the visitors almost managed an immediate response when Morgan Gibbs-white put Origi through one-on-one but Bart Verbruggen made the save.

The two Reds players combined again after the break but Origi fired wide on that occasion.

Forest felt their opponents should have been reduced to 10 men when Moder lunged in on Williams.

VAR checked for a potential red card but referee Michael Salisbury was not even asked to go to his pitchside monitor.

The Reds were better in the second half, with Chris Wood and Gibbs-white trying their luck, but they could not summon an equaliser.

Gibbs-white was keeping a check on his tongue after Forest’s defeat.

He was adamant that a big decision had gone against his side again, just a week after missing out to a controversial Liverpool winner at the City Ground.

Forest felt aggrieved that Brighton midfielder Moder avoided a 67thminute red card for a lunging challenge on Williams.

“Very disappointing but we seem to be saying the same things every week,” said Gibbs-white.

“The fans deserve more and the manager deserves more.

“We had more opportunities, it was unfortunate but we can’t keep saying that every week.

“For the first 15-20 minutes we were not at it today.”

On the VAR check for a possible Moder red card, Gibbs-white added: “It is getting ridiculous. Honestly ridiculous.

“The amount of decisions that have gone against us is outrageous this season.

“I don’t want to speak so much because I could get into trouble, there are so many things I want to say. In two days time we will get an apology again.”

Team-mate Chris Wood added: “I haven’t seen it back so I can’t comment too much but from my position on the pitch it looked like he collected him very healthily, let’s put it that way.

“If the referee gave red then it wouldn’t have been overturned.

“We have to control what we can control, we can’t control referees.

“We have not had much luck with referees this season.”

Defeat means Nuno Espirito Santo’s men remain only three points above the drop zone.

Wood added: “We started off okay but in this league okay is not good enough.

“We only started playing when they went 1-0 up and in this league that is not good enough.

“They took their chance. We had a couple of chances, their keeper made a good save on both of them. We need to do better in both boxes, keeping them out and scoring.

“We have been in this position before. It is still in our hands and that is what you want in the Premier League.”

Forest’s next game is away against Luton Town on Saturday.