‘No point’… Neco Williams thought two Nottingham Forest players had to be subbed yesterday

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Nottingham Forest defender Neco Williams has been explaining why Nuno Espirito Santo chose to make three substitutions at half-time yesterday.

The Reds lost 4-2 to Aston Villa and after the game, Williams spoke to BBC Sport.

So, what has Forest defender Williams said about the three substitutions that were made at half-time? Let’s take a closer look…

Neco Williams explains why Nottingham Forest made three subs at half-time

The Wales international kept his place in the team but the first 45 minutes was nothing short of a disaster for Forest.

Villa roared into a 3-0 lead, with Moussa Niakhate pulling one back in stoppage time at the end of the half.

Things did get a little bit better for Forest with Morgan Gibbs-White reducing the deficit further just after the break.

However, a goal for Leon Bailey wrapped things up for Villa but not before Forest had missed good chances to equalise.

At half-time, Espirito Santo made three subs, including withdrawing both central defenders – and Williams claimed something had to be done from a Forest perspective.

He told BBC Sport: “Murillo and Felipe were both on yellow cards so there was no point in risking them. It was a tactical one.”

Espirito Santo went bold but the damage was done

Although he scored, the decision to play Niakhate at left-back seemed curious from the outset and it royally backfired.

Still, taking both central defenders off at the break was a little bit bold and clearly, he didn’t want to risk either defender getting sent off.

Divock Origi was the other player introduced and he actually linked up well with Gibbs-White for Forest’s second goal.

Williams has suggested the Forest subs were tactical and the challenge for Espirito Santo is to ensure this type of first half performance doesn’t happen again.