Nottingham Forest
The team’s performance compared to Bournemouth and Sels’s debut
Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth drew 1-1 at the Vitality Stadium as the latter battled back to win a point on the south coast.
Justin Kluivert’s early goal was negated by Callum Hudson-Odoi’s incredible equalizer as the Reds overcame back-to-back Premier League losses. However, there was even more that the guests could have brought back from their trip north.
The Cherries were reduced to 10 men for the final minutes when Philip Billing was sent off for a challenge from behind on Hudson-Odoi, but Forest could not make the numerical advantage count. Below is a look at what head coach Nuno Espirito Santo had to say after the final whistle.
“It was a tough game. A very difficult game.
“We know how strong Bournemouth are. We started the game badly and allowed them to really press us. They had six or seven corners, which is a lot. We conceded from one of them.
“But we reacted well. We started controlling the game and being more dominant, having more actions. I think it was well deserved that we were drawing at half-time.
“Second half, both teams didn’t play well. It wasn’t a beautiful game. It was very physical and intense. I felt we could have done better, especially with the final pass.
“It was a tough game. The results are a consequence of the performance. Now we have to focus on how we want to perform, then things will eventually come.”
On the equaliser…
“It was a beautiful goal. He did well.
“Callum is improving game by game. We know how talented he is – he has shown that before. These are the standards he has to keep up.”
On being shown a yellow card by the referee…
“I asked for a yellow card (for a Bournemouth player). It was fair.”
On the referee’s performance…
“It was a tough game to referee. It was not easy at all for the referee.”
On Billing’s challenge on Hudson-Odoi…
“We have to see how Callum is. It is obvious that it’s a red card. It’s not fair because, with all respects to Billing – and I hope he understands when he listens to these words – there are other ways to stop the game without compromising the player.”
On starting deadline day signing Matz Sels in goal…
“It was not an easy decision. It is always hard. But what we need and what we are looking for is stability and confidence. Matz gave that to us today.
“It is something we addressed. Today, better, so let’s hope and continue to improve.”
On whether it was an opportunity missed…
“In the last moments, I think we should have done better. But there were not too many good decisions. We didn’t really threaten Bournemouth in the final moments of the game and the team was unbalanced. We needed more energy.
“We have to understand that Taiwo (Awoniyi) has come from three or four sessions after a long time out. If we look at those minutes in the game, we could have done more. But the rest of the game was very intense for both teams.
“The only way to get out of a tough situation is to work very hard. What we need is this commitment, and not just from one player – everyone in the club has to commit themselves to help so we can improve.”
