Forest are desperate for their first Premier League win of the season — but the man taking charge at Villa Park has a history that Reds fans will remember all too painfully
Nottingham Forest travel to Villa Park on Saturday chasing something that’s proven frustratingly elusive so far this season: a first Premier League win under Oliver Glasner. But just as optimism was building, one piece of news has landed that’s likely to leave supporters uneasy.
A Winless Start Under Glasner
Since arriving at the City Ground, Glasner has yet to taste victory in the league, suffering a 1-0 opening-day defeat to Leeds before back-to-back draws against Liverpool and Tottenham. With pressure building for that first breakthrough result, Forest now face the added complication of a referee appointment steeped in painful history.
Enter Andy Madley — A Name Forest Fans Won’t Forget
Andy Madley has been confirmed as the man in the middle for Saturday’s clash — and for supporters with long memories, that name comes attached to one of the most infamous refereeing controversies in recent Forest history.
The Nightmare of April 2023
Rewind to April 2023, when Forest sat in the relegation zone and were winless in nine games. During a crucial clash against Manchester United, Harry Maguire blatantly handled the ball from a Renan Lodi corner — with the score still locked at 0-0 at the time.
Madley, who was on VAR duty that day, chose not to intervene, allowing Maguire to escape completely unpunished. Making the situation even more galling, Maguire had already been booked earlier for a foul on Taiwo Awoniyi, and Manchester United were without four key defenders through injury — meaning Forest would genuinely have fancied their chances had the correct call been made.
Steve Cooper’s Fury Still Resonates
Then-manager Steve Cooper didn’t hold back in his post-match assessment, telling The Guardian:
“I am not going to say it is the absolute reason why we lost the game but I think it is a definite penalty from Maguire and possibly a second yellow card and could be a gamechanger. It is not the reason why we lost and I am not going to hide behind a penalty decision, but I do think it is a really, really, really bad error. One, from the referee on the pitch, but [let’s give him the] benefit of the doubt from that angle and [with] bodies around the ball, but for VAR not to give it.”
The Lasting Damage
That decision extended Forest’s winless run to ten games and robbed them of a genuine chance to move three points clear of the relegation zone during a genuinely nervy survival battle. Cooper ultimately steered Forest to safety that season despite the setback — but the memory of Madley’s non-intervention has clearly stuck.
Why This Appointment Matters Now
With Forest once again searching for form and desperate to kickstart their season with a first win, the return of Madley as the man overseeing their next fixture is unlikely to fill supporters with confidence. Whether history repeats itself remains to be seen — but Forest fans will be watching Saturday’s officiating extremely closely.
