Reds need to get on front foot against Hatters
NUNO Espirito Santo’s Nottingham Forest face a huge game away against Luton Town in the Premier League today (3pm).
The Reds have 10 games left to preserve their Premier League status, starting with this weekend’s trip to Kenilworth Road. The Hatters are currently only one place and three points behind 17th-placed Forest in the table.
Ahead of today’s clash there was plenty to talk about when Reds reporter SARAH CLAPSON held a live Q&A on our Forest Facebook page. Below is a look at how it panned out.
■Q: We keep going on about referee decisions but that, for me, doesn’t affect shots on target, goal attempts and winning football matches.
A: Forest have certainly been on the end of some really bad refereeing decisions – Sunday was another example of that. But they also need to do better themselves. Both things are true at the same time.
The focus for Nuno and the players, though, has to be on what they can control – and that is improving performances. They can’t go down the route of feeling sorry for themselves because that will not get them anywhere and won’t count for anything at the end of the season.
The refereeing decisions haven’t helped. Forest have been on the end of some absolute stinkers this season, some of which have been costly. They’ve got every right to be frustrated and furious and angry. But at the same time, they also need to take responsibility for their own performances.
It is difficult to say how Sunday would have panned out had Brighton gone down to 10 men. It might have made a difference but at the same time Forest didn’t exactly look like scoring.
It was a very flat performance, even if the second half was a bit better. They lacked a spark and Brighton were not tested anywhere near enough. I don’t think you can pin that particular defeat on the lack of a red card.
You can look at refereeing decisions but Forest also have to look at themselves and how they can improve, because that is what’s going to be the difference.
Referees and VAR will always have some kind of impact but players and managers need to help themselves, too. Performances will be the biggest factor in a survival fight.
■Q: Can’t play like last week again. Luton can be beaten, the team needs to believe.
A: Completely agree. Forest cannot put in the kind of performance they did last weekend.
Luton is a really tough place to go. They have shown a lot of spirit this season and shown they are prepared to scrap and fight. Forest need to do the same on Saturday.
Forest showed last season how important home form can be. Luton know that and they will make it a difficult atmosphere to play in. Nuno’s men have got to be ready for that.
Forest definitely need to go there with intent and positivity, and they need belief – not just on Saturday but also for the rest of their remaining games. Players need to believe that they can win.
Team spirit and belief was crucial last season. That needs to be the case again. It is the time of the season where players have to stand up and be counted.
Forest are certainly capable of going to Luton and getting a win. But it relies on them putting in a much, much better performance than they did against Brighton.
They have shown they can do it, though. Those first few games under Nuno set the standard, particularly Newcastle United away and Man United at the City Ground. They need to get back to playing like that.
If they can start well, that would make a big difference. Show intent from the off, get on the front foot and build some momentum.
At this stage of the season, it can get nervous and tense. There can be a temptation to go into your shell and think it is better not to lose, particularly away from home.
But Forest are not really in a position to do that; they need to win. They have some other big away
games to come, and they need to go into them all with a positive mindset.
The line-up is going to be key. For me, it needs to be a positive 11; take the game to Luton.
■Q: I don’t understand Nuno’s logic last Sunday, very odd team and then taking off Danilo and MGW when we needed to try to get something. We need to put our chances away, we have them every game.
A: That last point is one of the most concerning factors at the minute. Earlier in Nuno’s tenure, Forest didn’t have a problem scoring goals or creating chances. That has tailed off somewhat, but there is no reason why it can’t come back.
Forest have had some decent chances in the last few games, but finishing or decision-making has let them down. Results could have been so different if those opportunities had been taken. You cannot afford to pass chances up in the Premier League.
Having Chris Wood back is really important, particularly as Taiwo Awoniyi is still not yet back to full sharpness.
Nuno needs as many options and as many players who can chip in with goals as possible.
In terms of the team selection on Sunday, Nuno had a plan but it didn’t exactly work out. He wanted to pack the midfield, because he felt that was where Brighton would threaten.
He wanted to get a foothold in the game, then bring on the pace of Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-odoi when Brighton were starting to get a bit leggy.
That plan was always a bit of a gamble because it relied on still being in with a chance when the changes were made. Forest were still in with a chance when Nuno turned to his bench – it was just 1-0, so they could still have got something from the game.
The opportunity to push on was there but Forest didn’t really take it. They were better in the second half but still didn’t really test Brighton.
You can point to the red card incident and argue it would have made a difference.
But you can’t rely on things like that, you have to take things into your own hands.
Nuno has got a lot right since he has been at the club but I’m not sure you could include Sunday’s team selection in that.
There is a lot riding on getting it right against Luton.
Forest need to find momentum from somewhere, they need to find rhythm, they need to get players back to being on top form and playing how they did earlier on in Nuno’s tenure. And you do that by being positive.
■Q: Luton away has to be the Forest of last season and put in a performance of the season. Us loyal fans deserve it.
A: Liverpool away was a turning point last season. Forest didn’t get a result but they put in a really good performance and kicked on from it.
They can do that again this season. There is still time to go on a run. There will be twists and turns in the survival scrap.
It’s not done and dusted by any means. There is still an opportunity there, but Forest have to take it.
Players have to stand up and be counted.
They have shown what they can do before – the likes of Elanga, Hudson-odoi, Awoniyi, Gibbs-white and Nicolas Dominguez are all capable of getting goals. But the performances need to be better.
It is going to be a test of character. Players can’t hide or shy away from the situation.
I do think Forest have got that in the dressing room with the likes of Gibbs-white, Ryan Yates, Willy Boly and Felipe.
Unity and team spirit was so important last season. Forest have got to show they have got that again.