Latest Nottingham Forest news as Nuno Espirito Santo’s Reds prepare for their Premier League game with Everton.
There is a lot at stake in the PSR derby this weekend, as Nottingham Forest travel to Everton on Sunday.
Both clubs have asterisks next to their names because they violated the Profitability and Sustainability Rules and were fined points. Both teams are undergoing an appeals process.
Everton, of course, already has expertise in that area. Their 10-point deduction earlier in the season was reduced to six on appeal, and they are now contesting their two-point penalty for a second violation.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s Reds will travel to Goodison Park knowing that their appeal hearing is set to begin the following week. It will occur during the week of April 22.
Nuno had hoped for clarification before the teams played on Merseyside. He has always shown a willingness to resolve the situation as soon as possible. Forest will have to wait.
And the Premier League will have to wait even longer for the Toffees’ issue to be determined, since it has been claimed that they have filed a second appeal. It appears that the backstop date of May 24 may be pushed, meaning that the relegation picture may remain uncertain once the final round of fixtures is completed.
Nuno was correct when he described it as “a mess” last week. It is absurd to think that teams will still not know their fate by the time their holidays begin.
Nonetheless, regardless of what happens in a hearing room and whether Forest is successful in reducing their punishment, Nuno and his teammates must forge their own path to safety. With five games remaining, they are one point ahead of 18th-placed Luton Town in the race to retain their top-flight status.
To get there, the Reds will most likely need to earn up points on the road. Their remaining home games are against Manchester City and Chelsea, who are not easy tests, even though they drew with the former at the City Ground last season and the latter blows hot and cold.
This leaves Forest’s away games. Trips to Everton, Sheffield United, and Burnley present their own obstacles, especially for a squad with only two wins on the road in the league this season.
The problem is a carry-over from last season. Performance has improved, but further progress is required in terms of results. Goodison Park would be an excellent spot to begin.
