By The Telegraph (World News) | Created at 2024-10-29 18:11:43 | Updated at 2024-10-30 21:26:00
1 week ago
By John Percy
Nottingham Forest’s return to the Premier League has never been short of drama and controversy, and this month they will be without a suspended club owner and head coach.
Evangelos Marinakis, the Greek billionaire, starts a five-match stadium ban for Monday’s clash with Crystal Palace while Nuno Espirito Santo will be in the stands for three matches as Forest feel the impact of a clampdown on misconduct by the Football Association.
It was hoped that this season would be far more serene, after an excruciating 23/24 campaign which included a points deduction and regular battles with the Premier League, FA and PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited).
Yet the flashpoints keep on coming and the atmosphere promises to be red-hot at the City Ground on Monday night, with supporters angered by what they feel is a personal vendetta against the club.
Amid the backdrop of an absent owner and a head coach watching from the stand, Forest are hoping to continue a promising start to the season by reversing their poor home form.
Under Nuno’s predecessor Steve Cooper, Forest’s impressive home results ensured survival in their first year back at the top table for 23 years.
It is therefore a source of huge frustration that Forest have won only twice in front of their own supporters in 2024, and are without a home victory so far this season.
Failure to beat winless Palace on Monday will see Forest equal their longest run of home matches without a victory since 2012 [eight in all competitions].
Nuno has guided his team to notable results away at Liverpool, Chelsea and Brighton this season and admits the prospect of a siege mentality could help provide some home comforts.
He said: “If the atmosphere is heated and it helps us, that’s better for us but we still have to do our jobs. The atmosphere has always been very positive for what we’re doing as a team.
“This is what we have to match with our performances. We didn’t perform well in our last game against Fulham, that shows we have an issue to take care of. This is what we are trying to do and Monday is a good chance to reverse it.”
Nuno will watch the Palace match from the directors’ box and is allowed to be in contact with his assistant Rui Pedro Silva.
On the pitch, Forest will be without Morgan Gibbs-White and James Ward-Prowse, who are also suspended.
Matz Sels, the goalkeeper, has been passed fit after withdrawing from international duty with Belgium due to an adductor injury.
