Joe Cole questions £34m Nottingham Forest star who ‘switched off’ for Real Betis’ equaliser

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As the dust settles, Nottingham Forest will be happy with an away draw against Real Betis, but Joe Cole pointed out one star who may have cost the Reds all three points.

Forest drew with Betis in an entertaining clash that almost epitomised what Ange Postecoglou’s football is all about, with the Reds creating more than enough chances in the first half to put them out of sight.

The momentum of the game switched at half-time, though, when Douglas Luiz was substituted due to a hamstring issue, which allowed Betis to gain control of the game before eventually finding an equaliser.

Clearly, the mounting pressure meant that Antony’s goal was always on the cards, but Joe Cole believes that one Forest star could’ve prevented the equaliser.

Joe Cole questions Dan Ndoye’s defending against Real Betis

As well as Dilane Bakwa replacing Luiz, Dan Ndoye and Arnaud Kalimuendo were also introduced by Postecoglou to provide fresh legs in the attacking area.

However, given the fact that Betis were on top throughout the second half, it was hard for the replacement attackers to make much of an impact on the game going forward.

The wide players, especially, had defensive duties to attend to, with Ndoye’s efforts in particular disappointing Cole in the aftermath of the game.

Speaking on TNT Sports, he said: “Ndoye at the far post just switches off. It’s a lovely pull-back and a good finish from Antony, but when you’re a winger, I’ve been in that position where you’re hanging on, don’t just go in there and be a statue.

“You’ve run all the way back so run with your man right until the end. It’s like running a 100m race and stopping after 80m because you’re ahead; you don’t get anything for that.”

Oleksandr Zinchenko was perhaps in a position to clear the cross before it reached Antony, but the replay clearly shows that Ndoye was tracking the Brazilian before losing concentration at the crucial moment.

It was a heartbreaking moment for the Reds, but Postecoglou will take lessons from the Betis game, particularly in terms of his use of substitutes.

Nottingham Forest’s substitutions didn’t work against Real Betis

Control was the tactic of choice for Postecoglou away in Seville, with the sweltering heat making it paramount to keep hold of the ball for any potential success.

However, once Luiz had come off, the Reds struggled to replicate the control felt in the first half, meaning that the freshly introduced wingers needed to create for the side in a way that they would in Nuno Espírito Santo’s system.

Neither produced what was required, though, not completing a cross between them and creating no chances for Kalimuendo through the middle.

Postecoglou will need more from his substitutions going forward, especially in these tense European nights away from the City Ground, where momentum can swing.