Nottingham Forest told ‘heartbreaking’ Champions League truth after Everton blow
Nottingham Forest have been backed to bounce back from Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Everton as they target Champions League qualification.
Abdoulaye Doucoure’s 94th-minute goal condemned the Reds to a second successive loss, following the one they suffered at Aston Villa a week earlier. It has left Nuno Espirito Santo’s side nervously looking over their shoulders in the race for a top-five finish and passage into Europe’s elite club competition.
Forest have been in the top four spots for more than 100 days now but have seen their points cushion cut by the chasing pack. Pundit Stephen Warnock says it would be “heartbreaking” for the club to miss out on the Champions League, given they have had it within their grasp for so long. But to get over the line, he has stressed Nuno’s men must quickly put this weekend’s disappointment behind them.
“It would be heartbreaking for Forest to miss out on Champions League football at this point given all the work they have put into the season,” the former Liverpool defender said on the BBC’s Final Score. “They have to go back into the dressing room now and say, OK, bad day at the office. Let’s go again and re-group.
“We’ve seen them bounce back from adversity at times already this season, so it is not the end of the day. However, the teams behind them are in good form.”
The third-placed Reds are two points ahead of Manchester City with six games to play. Aston Villa currently occupy fifth spot and are a point further back. Newcastle United are four points adrift of Forest but host Manchester United today (Sunday) and have a game in hand.
By the time they visit Tottenham Hotspur a week on Monday, Nuno’s men could have dropped down the table as their rivals play before them. The Reds head coach said after Saturday’s defeat: “It is in our hands but nobody is going to give us anything, we have to do it by ourselves. It is up to us to improve and compete much better – like we did before.
“We cannot get away from the fact it is a decisive moment of the season. We were not comfortable and the fans also saw the boys were struggling.
“We are in this position and we want to try to give it a go. But nobody is going to give us anything.
“This week is going to be good for us, to prepare better and compete well. Hopefully.”
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