'Contact': Mike Dean shares verdict on VAR's decision not to award Nottingham Forest a penalty vs Fulham

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Nottingham Forest’s unbeaten start to the season has come to an end on Saturday following defeat to Fulham.

Nuno Espirito Santo‘s side were left frustrated at the City Ground with the visitors taking three points through a narrow 1-0 victory.

Forest did have the ball in the back of the net through Chris Wood but saw VAR rule the opening goal of the afternoon out for offside.

But it was a refereeing decision which provided Fulham with the opportunity to take the lead as Raul Jimenez slotted home from the penalty spot.

However, there was an incident which saw Forest appealing for their own penalty in the second half of the game at the City Ground.

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Mike Dean shares verdict on Nottingham Forest penalty appeal

After Fulham had opened the scoring, Anthony Elanga attempted to steal the ball off Calvin Bassey who appeared to swipe the Swede’s feet from under him.

Bassey was on the ground as he attempted to control the ball before Elanga nipped in front of him.

There was clear contact yet neither the referee nor VAR gave the decision to the home side which will have left Nuno furious in the stands.

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Speaking on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday, Mike Dean provided his verdict on the incident in the Fulham penalty area.

“VAR had a look at it and thought there was minimal contact, there is a bit of contact,” said Dean.

“But in these days with the high bar it is referee’s call and play on, which is just about a fair decision.”

Nottingham Forest robbed of a penalty

It’s so difficult to see just how Forest did not get the decision in their favour when Elanga went down.

There was clear contact from Bassey and there was enough force to bring the Forest winger down inside the box.

Following the controversial scenes last season with VAR, Forest will feel a lot less went against them over the course of the last campaign.

The penalty would have offered Forest the chance to take a point from the game but now their unbeaten record is out of the window, the Reds must now look to bounce back next week against Chelsea.