POINTS DROPPED IN STUTTERING FINISH TO MEMORABLE CAMPAIGN

A GUT-wrenching blow to one dream rather overshadowed the achievement of another as Nottingham Forest players sunk to the ground in despair.

- By SARAH CLAPSON

Almost as one, the Reds dropped to their haunches or collapsed to the turf at the end of their 2-2 draw with Leicester City. They looked spent. They looked battered and bruised.

In a different universe, such reactions might have played out had either of the previous two relegation-fighting seasons panned out differently. After all, Forest bore the look of a distraught team.

Instead, their anguish stemmed from a suckerpunch being dealt to their Champions League hopes. And that alone is an indication of just how far they have come in a short space of time.

The progress is tangible but it was also of little consolation - at least in the raw initial aftermath of Sunday's stalemate.

The point guaranteed the Reds will be touring the continent in some form next term. Once the dust has settled, there will be recognition of just how remarkable securing European football of any kind is for the club.

It is just that, for now, the pride is accompanied by some pain and a nagging sense of what might have been - both on the day and across the campaign.

Below is a look at some of the big talking points from the clash with the Foxes on the banks of the Trent.

Marinakis' moment

Football is a game of emotions. And Evangelos Marinakis is an emotional, passionate man. The Reds owner is rarely one to hide his feelings.

On Sunday, a day when the senses were heightened given everything at stake, his frustration was there for all to see after the final whistle. Marinakis marched on to the pitch and engaged in a brief animated conversation with head coach Nuno Espirito Santo.

The latter handled it all with incredibly good grace and poise, both in the moment and in the media spotlight afterwards. Both men went on to explain Marinakis' annoyance concerned an incident involving Taiwo Awoniyi which meant the hosts effectively played the final minutes with 10 men.