Garry Birtles said Nottingham Forest did something vs Arsenal that Brian Clough would have been fuming at
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Nottingham Forest were thrashed 3-0 by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Reds were forced to play the quality title-chasers without a number of star players with injuries – and jet lag – taking over the squad!
James Ward-Prowse was slammed by fans for his showing as he made a first start in Nuno Espirito Santo’s team for six weeks.
The Forest head coach has already said that training will see some defensive work this week and things definitely need to change.
Forest did go third in the Premier League after a 3-0 win over West Ham but have now conceded three goals in two consecutive games since.
Bukayo Saka, Thomas Partey and Ethan Nwaneri scored for Arsenal at the weekend – and Garry Birtles couldn’t believe what he was watching.
Garry Birtles shares what Forest did that would have infuriated Brian Clough
The Reds were pretty drab defensively at the weekend and Arsenal could – and probably should – have won by more.
Forest will be glad to park this game and move on to Saturday when the Reds will face Ipswich at the City Ground.
Birtles felt that none of the goals conceded by Forest at the weekend were anything to do with the brilliance of Arsenal.
He felt that all three were avoidable and suggested the legendary Brian Clough would have been fuming on Saturday.
He told the Forest Focus podcast: “One of the main things you tell your kids when they’re playing football is that you close things down quickly, don’t let them shoot.
“Brian Clough always used to say, stop the cross, don’t let the ball get in your box. Do the basics.”
Forest need to prove this defensive uncertainty is just a blip
The next game is always the most important one but Forest really have to defeat Ipswich at the weekend.
After that fixture, there will be several tough games on the horizon and Forest need that cushion of an extra three points on the board.
The Reds have largely been good defensively this season and hopefully, this is just a blip on that front.
Espirito Santo has prided himself on the work he’s done with the defensive group during pre-season and the last two games will concern him.
There is enough experience in the defensive unit, however, to go out on Saturday and claim a big three points at home to Ipswich.
