Nuno Espirito Santo admitted that Nottingham Forest's 5-0 in Bournemouth was a strong memory of the difficulty in ending in the top four this season.
The eight-game unbeaten Premier League-Run of Forest ended with a jammer in the Vitality Stadium, because the hat trick of Dango Ouattara helped the cherries accompany the victory.
In fact, Forest has now admitted three or more goals in each of their last four defeats of top flight (14 goals combined), while also having their biggest loss in the competition since a 5-0 away at Fulham in December 2023.
Although the Nuno side remains in the Champions League places, victories for Manchester City and Newcastle United have threatened their European hope last time.
“Of course it is difficult to take. I think it surprised everyone, especially the way we started the game. It was bad. From the beginning to the end it was a bad day,” Nuno said.
“It realizes how we do things; how we play football. It is clearly our strengths – we are a team that needs to be close together, compact and not allow room for our opponents to drive and do their actions.
“Not only against Bournemouth, but in the second half against Southampton it was a warning. It was 7-0, which we had in 135 minutes. That is the reality. We have to look at a deep look how we can't repeat it again .
“It must be a warning for everyone – we as a group of coaching staff, the players, the fans. Realizing how we do things, and we can never give up those aspects of the game.”
Brighton also suffered a disappointing defeat previous time-out and went to Everton 1-0 in the Amex Stadium, with the first half of Iliman Ndiaye the difference.
The seagulls are ninth in the Premier League table in their search for European football next season, in which Fabian Hurzeler suggests that additions in the January window can be on their hands to increase their chances in a place in Europe.
Brighton has reportedly submitted various bids for Derby County -defender Eiran Cashin, all of whom were rejected, while striker Evan Ferguson is linked with a move of the Amex Stadium.
“There are no priorities for me. For me, the most important thing is that I can influence the players I have available and try to improve the best way, “said Hurzeler.
“The other things we discuss internally, we always try it and that is the most important thing. What helps the club to be more successful and if it is more successful, to bring in a new player, then we can do it.
“If not, we'll not do it, but I am a coach and to be honest I can really only influence things on the field and next to the field, with the players there are, and that is my task where I try to concentrate. “
Players to watch
Nottingham Forest – Chris Wood
Only Erling Haaland (17), Alexander Isak (16) and Mohamed Salah (14) have scored more non-Penalty objectives this season in the Premier League than Forest Striker Wood (12).
De Nieuw -Zeelandse International has also scored more goals against Brighton (nine) than he has on another side in his English competition career.
Brighton – Joao Pedro
Pedro cannot be scored in each of his last three Premier League matches and would like to add to his five goals he scored in the top flight this season.
However, he has managed six targets in his last eight outings in the Premier League (two goals, four assists), and also a brace on the city grounds in November 2023.
Competition prediction: Nottingham Forest Win
Forest has won six of their last eight Premier League home competitions (D1 L1), with five of those six victories with a margin of one goal. This is only the second time that they have kicked off on a Saturday at 12.30 pm since their return to the Premier League and Liverpool beat 1-0 in the city in October 2022 in their only previous game.
The eight-game unbeaten Run by Nuno, however, ended in Bournemouth last time and gave more goals in that defeat (five) as they did in their previous seven Premier League matches combined (four). Only once this season did they have lost successive league matches, in November against Newcastle and Arsenal.
Forest is also Winless in their last three Premier League meetings with Brighton (D1 L2), because they have been unbeaten in their previous eight top matches against De Meeuwen (W6 D2).
In the meantime, Brighton won this exact match 3-2-Ze last season, however, never won successive road races against Forest against Forest.
The seagulls also saw their undefeated run to an end of the last time-out and lost to Everton to stop their six-game streak. The seagulls have only won two of their last 11 Premier League matches (D6 L3) and were able to lose successful games for the first time since last season with back-to-back defeats.
And the first goal on the city could be crucial. Hurzeler's Kant scored the opening goal in 10 of their 12 Premier League matches this season (including in each of their last five), more than any other side. In the meantime, Forest has risen 1-0 in 18 of their 23 league games in general this period, most in the division.
Opta wins probability
Nottingham Forest – 45.6%
Drawing – 26.8%
Brighton – 27.6%
Comments