The Nottingham Forest players’ loss to Liverpool on Saturday was just what they needed to keep going in their Premier League survival attempt.
Any Forest supporter would have found the refereeing fiasco, which resulted in Darwin Nunez’s stoppage-time winner, to be heartbreaking to watch. Many fans will have felt a deep sense of injustice as they left the City Ground, having watched their team battle tooth and nail for a crucial point that was ultimately stolen.
As the Reds approach a pivotal point in the season, they cannot allow the events of Saturday afternoon to continue to haunt them. If Forest is to be demoted, it will be due to their on-field performances for the course of the 38-game season, not on a single poor call by referee Paul Tierney.
Rather, Nuno Espirito Santo’s team has to take advantage of any feeling of unfairness, beginning with their away game against Brighton on Sunday. The team is still in the dark about the outcome of their appeal against a purported violation of the Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR) of the league.
The Forest players must, however, focus on scoring as many points as they can to offset any potential deductions because they have little control over what occurs off the pitch. There should only be one relegation spot left as Sheffield United and Burnley appear destined for relegation, barring the Reds receiving an exceptionally severe punishment.
Furthermore, they need to draw inspiration from Saturday’s incident in order to maintain their survival. Any belief that the Reds were treated unfairly should be interpreted as a sign of resistance, since one poor choice won’t determine their future.
Following the match at the Amex Stadium on Sunday, Forest will play a string of vital games. Luton Town, Crystal Palace, and Fulham—the latter two of whom are at home—will be the opponents facing Nuno’s squad.
After going winless from February to April of last year, the Reds looked like they were headed back to the Championship in March of that year. That is not going to happen again. The Forest players only need to reflect on their performance against Liverpool and make sure it doesn’t define the remainder of their season if they need any more motivation.
