James Ward-Prowse’s ex-coach notices something ‘crazy’ the Nottingham Forest star keeps on doing 

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Nottingham Forest drew 1-1 with Chelsea on Sunday to maintain an unbeaten start away home during the 2024/25 campaign.

The Reds’ goal came from Chris Wood and the Forest talisman picked up some praise from a host of pundits, including Ally McCoist.

It perhaps wasn’t the striker who copped the lionshare of the praise though. Joe Hart felt Matz Sels earned his side a point following his seven brilliant saves during the share of the spoils.

For James Ward-Prowse it was something of a bittersweet afternoon. He was shown a red card after collecting a second caution but in hindsight, his act helped Forest claim a point.

Ward-Prowse was a hot topic of discussion among Forest supporters. However, there should be no angst towards him as had he not handled the ball, Nicolas Jackson could well have raced away and scored.

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Dave Watson mentions ‘crazy’ James Ward-Prowse situation

The man who was a goalkeeper coach at Forest under David Platt and also worked for England and Southampton knows Ward-Prowse extremely well.

He actually got a front-row seat of Ward-Prowse doing exactly what he did on Sunday some years ago – although his previous sending-off at Stamford Bridge wasn’t quite as comical.

During the 2021/22 campaign, the Forest midfielder was given a straight card after scoring in a 3-1 defeat for Southampton against Chelsea.

Watson believes that’s a bit strange and said on the Cycling GK podcast: “It’s crazy that Prowsey (James Ward-Prowse), I worked with him at Southampton.

“He had a red card, he had one at Chelsea a few years ago with us and it seems like Stamford Bridge is red card territory for him.

“He knows it’s a red and he has to take one for the team there. It became ping pong at the end but both goalkeepers were amazing.”

Ward-Prowse can still be a big player for Forest this season

When domestic football returns after the international break, Ward-Prowse will only have two possible games where he will be able to help Forest on the pitch.

He will be suspended and unable to play against Crystal Palace, whilst in November, Forest play West Ham and Ward-Prowse will be ineligible to face his parent club.

That leaves games against Leicester and Newcastle as his options before the next international break and he will now be keen to prove a point following his ban.

Ward-Prowse has been a bit of a slow burner at Forest. On Sunday, however, he was having arguably his best game in the Garibaldi since arriving in the summer on loan from West Ham.

There is still a key role for the 29-year-old to play at Forest this season. His delivery helped Forest score against Chelsea and his experience will come in handy at a club where the dressing room is on the younger side of things.