Brian Laws has hammered Jonjo Shelvey for his part in another defeat for Nottingham Forest yesterday. The Reds’ midfielder was handed a start by boss Steve Cooper but he let his manager down.
The man who served Forest with distinction in the eighties and nineties was on commentary duty for BBC Radio Nottingham yesterday. Shelvey was handed a rare start by Cooper and it proved a mistake.
Shelvey signed for the Reds during the January transfer window. He ended his long association with Newcastle to sign terms at the City Ground and he’s committed to the club on a long contract.
Laws wasn’t happy with the midfielder yesterday. He hammered him following a moment of madness in the second half that results in Bertrand Traore opening the scoring.
He told BBC Radio Nottingham: “What was Shelvey thinking? He’s just got to clear the ball.”
Eddie Howe lauded Shelvey when he departed Newcastle. He helped the club win promotion during his time at St James’ Park and then played a key part as they stabilised as a Premier League club.
Shelvey was a shock signing made by the Reds during the January transfer window. At 31-years-old, his best days look behind him and Forest have been dealt a really poor hand.
Laws hammered Shelvey for part in Nottingham Forest defeat
This was an absolute disasterclass from Shelvey. All he had to do was clear the ball and Forest would have possibly held on for an unlikely point at Villa Park.
Instead, he provided the catalyst for Villa to continue their fine run of form. Ollie Watkins put the seal on the victory deep into injury time to compound the misery of Forest.
The Reds haven’t won for nine games now. They are in serious trouble at the bottom of the division and yesterday they slipped into the relegation zone for the first time since the World Cup.
After yesterday’s horror show, Shelvey could find it hard to get back into the team. Cooper’s signing is now providing the manager with a serious conundrum ahead of next weekend’s clash against Manchester United.
Receive a digest of our best Nottingham Forest content each week direct to your mailbox
