Nuno Espirito Santo has explained why he let Nottingham Forest star Moussa Niakhate take a penalty kick last night.
The head coach was speaking with Nottinghamshire Live after the victory.
So, what was the thought process from Espirito Santo when it came to naming Niakhate as a penalty taker? Let’s take a closer look…
Why Nuno Espirito Santo let Moussa Niakhate take a penalty
Well, it’s fair to say that this was a big decision based on what happened to Forest defender Niakhate at the African Cup of Nations.
The 27-year-old was the only player to miss for Senegal as they lost in the last 16 to Ivory Coast on penalties.
Now, Niakhate is back with Forest and last night he was keen to try and make amends for his miss on the international stage.
There were no such issues as the Reds defeated Bristol City, with Niakhate burying his penalty.
After the game, Forest boss Espirito Santo was naturally quizzed on the thought process behind selecting Niakhate to take a penalty.
He told Nottinghamshire Live: “We prepared penalties very carefully on Tuesday. We always do, because we know it can happen.
“The decision was taken on the way they practised. Moussa told me what happened at AFCON wouldn’t happen again, so I trust him.”
Forest star Niakhate has already parked AFCON disappointment
It would appear that this situation was just the tonic for Niakhate as he bids to get his Forest place back.
The defender was in fine form last night and he might have secretly been hoping for a penalty shootout.
This could prove really useful for the Senegal defender when it comes to parking his disappointment and kicking on with Forest.
Niakhate should be capable of getting his place back under Forest boss Espirito Santo.
He was a standout performer in games against Newcastle and Manchester United and hopefully, he can move on from his AFCON horror show.
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