Dermot Gallagher and Jay Bothroyd are in agreement over referee error in Nottingham Forest vs Sunderland

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Much has been made of the free kick that resulted in Sunderland scoring against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Former Forest player Andy Reid was baffled by the decision; meanwhile, current player Neco Williams admitted he had never seen anything like it.

Ange Postecoglou was not pleased with the referee’s choice but did admit they should have defended better from the resulting set piece.

Now, former Premier League ref Dermot Gallagher has given his opinion on the free kick that ultimately sent Forest home in defeat.

Dermot Gallagher says referee should have done nothing in controversial moment

Dermot Gallagher has spoken about the controversial decision to award Sunderland the free kick in which they scored from on Saturday.

The former Premier League referee appeared on the weekly show Ref Watch alongside Jay Bothroyd to run through each of the major referee decisions throughout the weekend.

Gallagher reacted to the free kick given against Nottingham Forest by saying, “He gives an indirect free kick against Dominguez for simulation. I actually think two players challenge for the ball, and I think he should just leave it alone. I wouldn’t side with either.”

“You leave it alone, it goes away, and then it ramps up when they score from the free kick.”

• READ MORE: Tim Howard launches scathing review of Ange Postecoglou’s stubborn tactics at Nottingham Forest

Meanwhile, alongside him on the panel, Jay Bothroyd was a little more annoyed, stating, “I don’t think the players knew who the free kick was for. It shouldn’t have been a free kick; it should have been play on.

“There was no real contact. Players are looking around wondering who the free kick is for. That’s a poor decision again.

“That’s just soft, isn’t it? That’s one of those soft decisions and I don’t want to see that in football. That’s why people look at football sometimes and say, ‘The game’s gone.'”

Nottingham Forest must bounce back against FC Midtjylland

Free kick aside, Nottingham Forest were not great against Sunderland, and they desperately need a result soon to truly kickstart the Postecoglou era.

The game against Midtjylland is the perfect opportunity to do so, and if the Tricky Trees fail to win, there will no doubt be a lot of questions asked.

After their European tie, they travel to St James’ Park to face Newcastle, and that will be another difficult fixture for Ange Postecoglou.

If they head into that low on confidence and still without a win, things could turn toxic quickly among the Garibaldi faithful.

Many fans are already losing patience with the Australian, and the only way he can win favour is by getting results.