Nottingham Forest news: Game, set, match problem for Reds, but who is to blame?

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Another two goals conceded at Huddersfield, with two more corners contributing to Nottingham Forest’s downfall.

Failure to properly clear the lines from a first delivered an uphill task at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Inability to deal with another left the Reds with a mountain to climb.

Not for the first time.

Set-pieces have been a serious thorn in Forest’s side for a while.

Lessons still aren’t being learned.

Be it corners, free-kicks or general long lumps down the field, the Red Sea continues to part with alarming regularity.

Huddersfield will have known that and took full advantage on Saturday.

How hard did they have to work for their match-defining moments on home soil?

Pre-Christmas gifts were handed to them.

Generosity

A similar show of generosity was offered against Sheffield Wednesday.

All four goals against the Owls came from deliveries into the box or passes played in the air towards it.

Opponents have been looking to favour a physical threat in the final third when facing the Reds.

With archetypal ‘big men from the back’ added to the mix at set-pieces.

Who is to blame for Forest’s ongoing failings to address a very obvious problem?

Sabri Lamouchi must take a share.

As mentioned, though, he is not the first to experience such troubles.

Those on the pitch have to shoulder the greater load.

It is they who can directly influence proceedings, not those on the touchline.

Leaders are required to step up in times of need.

Joe Worrall, Michael Dawson, Ben Watson, whoever it is, somebody needs to take control and make sure that everyone is doing their job.

While still doing their own!

Positives

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There have been plenty of positives to take from the 2019-20 campaign, but those efforts are now being undermined.

And the faults are so avoidable.

If you are being cut apart by free-flowing football or downed by 30-yard worldies on a regular basis, then there isn’t much you can do about that.

In such instances, you hold your hands up.

When continuously coming unstuck down the same route, said hands become planted on face.

There becomes a point when bad luck can no longer be blamed.

Even then, there is a lot to be said for making your own luck.

Do the basics right and you won’t go far wrong.

Forest need to get back to that mindset, remove any finger pointing and avoid the regular shots being fired into their own foot.