Death, taxes and VAR being at the detriment of Nottingham Forest Football Club are the three certainties in life.
Before last weekend’s trip to Brighton, Forest had done quite well in avoiding VAR controversies during the four opening matches of the campaign.
However, things took a turn last weekend when a messy incident saw Morgan Gibbs-White sent off, despite the referee signalling he played the ball in a tackle.
Yesterday, things were all over the place again. Josh Smith was sent to the screen by VAR John Brooks just after half-time.
Brian Laws thought Murillo had shoved Andrea Pereira but soft this was and a clear and obvious error it was not.
Later in the game, Anthony Elanga was clearly fouled but this time Brooks stuck with the referee’s decision – which was inconsistent, to say the least.
Richard Keys thinks Nottingham Forest will be fuming with Howard Webb
Back in the summer, the Daily Mail printed some changed that were going to be made to VAR this season, with Webb making the proposals.
One was in the make-up of a referee’s call – similar to umpire’s call in cricket which would raise the benchmark for VAR even getting involved.
The article claimed: “The phrase referee’s call will be adopted like umpire’s call in cricket. The aim is to re-establish the high bar to get involved, something the referees’ chief Howard Webb felt slipped last season. Unless there is clear and obvious evidence, the decision stags with the on-field referee.”
Keys is incensed by this claiming that the officials have already gone back on this following the incidents of yesterday.
He posted on X: “It didn’t take long for this to get forgotten about, did it? Forest won’t be happy again.”
Forest must bounce back quickly
It’s four points from three games from fixtures against Liverpool, Brighton and Fulham since the last international break and it’s a shame the Reds couldn’t win yesterday.
Beating Liverpool is great but this was a real chance for Forest to put a marker down and really prove that they can kick on this season.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 7 |  NewcastleNewcastle | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 11 |
| 8 |  BrightonBrighton | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 9 |
| 9 |  Nottm ForestNottingham Forest | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 9 |
| 10 |  TottenhamTottenham | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 7 |
| 11 |  Man UtdManchester United | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
Had the team got a point that their efforts probably deserved, it would have been much easier to take and with Chelsea to come next up, the Reds have to regain focus quickly.
Nuno Espirito Santo will be frustrated with the decisions yesterday but in truth, there were some errors on his part too.
The club’s home form has become a real concern under Espirito Santo and after the international break, he simply has to address that alarming run.
Receive a digest of our best Nottingham Forest content each week direct to your mailbox
