No positives for Nuno in home defeat

NUNO Espirito Santo has made clear improvement is required as Nottingham Forest look to get over the line in the race for Champions League football.

- By SARAH CLAPSON

The Reds were well below par as they fell 1-0 to Everton on Saturday. They offered little going forward and were punished at the back when Abdoulaye Doucoure bagged a 94th minute winner after a Murillo mistake.

The Reds went into the clash looking to bounce back from a 2-1 loss at Aston Villa last time out.

And they were boosted by the return of striker Chris Wood from a hip injury.

It was the visitors who started the better, however. Matz Sels was twice called into action before the half-hour mark to deal with efforts from Iliman Ndiaye and former Forest midfielder James Garner.

Jota Silva had a couple of sights of goal for the Reds in a drab first half but they were comfortable for Toffees goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

Meanwhile, a dipping strike from Morgan Gibbs-White shortly before the break flew wide of the target.

It was proving to be hard going for the Champions League chasers. Callum Hudson-Odoi and Jota tried their luck in the second half but the nerves around the stadium were palpable as the hosts continued to come under pressure.

VAR checked for a potential penalty against Murillo on Beto in the dying minutes but the decision went in Forest’s favour.

However, a Murillo mistake was then punished right at the death as Doucoure capitalised to strike a late blow for Nuno’s side.