Nottingham Forest suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat at the Hill Dickinson Stadium as Sean Dyche’s return to Everton turned sour.
The match took a negative turn for Forest early on, as Nikola Milenkovic’s own goal gifted Everton an early lead within two minutes. Further strikes from Thierno Barry and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall compounded Forest’s misery, leaving them with more questions than answers upon their return from Merseyside.
The game saw controversy arise when James Tarkowski, Everton’s defender, was accused of committing an act of violent conduct towards Dan Ndoye in the first half. Dyche, Forest’s manager, was visibly incensed by the incident, expressing his frustration at the officiating decisions.
Nottingham Forest decided to lodge a formal complaint with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) regarding Tarkowski’s actions. The club’s hierarchy, along with Dyche, believed that the off-the-ball incident involving Tarkowski and Ndoye warranted further examination, with a particular focus on a potential case of violent conduct.
Forest’s dissatisfaction with the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology was evident, as the club felt aggrieved by what they perceived as another incorrect decision going against them.
Looking ahead, Dyche faces the task of preparing his team for upcoming fixtures against Utrecht on Thursday followed by a crucial clash against Tottenham at the City Ground on Sunday.
As Forest aim to bounce back from their recent defeat and injuries continue to impact team selection, Dyche must rally his players to improve their form and performance levels in the upcoming matches. Despite the setback against Everton, Forest will need to focus on regrouping and delivering better results to salvage their season.
