Nuno demanding a rule change as Forest falter

NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO has called for a rule change after his first match in charge of Nottingham Forest was ruined by a controversial red card for Willy Boly in a last-gasp 3-2 home defeat to Bournemouth.

Boly was sent off in the 23rd minute for two yellow cards, with referee Rob Jones brandishing the second despite the defender clearly winning the ball in a tackle with Adam Smith.

Dominic Solanke went on to break Forest hearts as he completed a hat-trick, heading home a winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

Nuno, who took over from the sacked Steve Cooper earlier in the week, was left frustrated by rules which mean VAR cannot intervene to downgrade a yellow card and wants to see a change.

‘Very bad decision,’ said Nuno. ‘A decision that totally changed the game.

“It is more the frustration of knowing the approach of the referee is a bad one and the law says you cannot reverse the decision because it is two yellow cards. It is something they have to look at because it doesn’t make sense.

‘Our fans deserve better decisions. They come here to see football and suddenly they see something which really changes the game.’ Ten-man Forest went ahead through Anthony Elanga before two goals in seven minutes by Solanke put the Cherries in front.

Chris Wood’s header looked to have earned a point on Nuno’s debut until Solanke nodded home at the death. The defeat left Forest just two points clear of the relegation zone.

Elsewhere, Burnley picked up their first away win of the season with a

2-0 victory at Fulham.

In the first top-flight English game to be refereed by a female official, Burnley boss Vincent Kompany heaped praise on Rebecca Welch for making history.

Kompany, who spoke to Welch at full-time, said: ‘I wanted to congratulate her because it’s a big moment.

‘After the game it’s fair to say that it’s a milestone moment and may there be more, and the best thing will always be when someone is judged on merit.

‘But you have to have a first and this is it, so well done (to her) and I’m happy to be part of this moment.’

Wilson Odobert and Sander Berge scored in the second half for the struggling Clarets, who remain in the bottom three.