Nottingham Forest manager Oliver Glasner chose to bite his tongue rather than spark another fiery controversy following a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Coventry City at the City Ground, a result that leaves the Reds still searching for their first home win in the Premier League since April.
While Jay Dasilva’s second-half strike proved to be the decisive blow on the night, Forest thought they had dramatically snatched a share of the spoils late in the game, only for technology to intervene and crush their hopes.
Late Equalizer Chalked Off by VAR
With the clock ticking down to the 88th minute, substitute Igor Jesus thought he had rescued a crucial point for the hosts by firing home from close range, sparking wild celebrations across the stadium. However, referee Jared Gillett was instructed by the video assistant referee to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.
Upon review, it was determined that Jesus had committed a foul in the build-up. The Premier League Match Centre later clarified the decision on social media, explaining: “Nottingham Forest No.11 clearly stands on the foot of Coventry No.8, which prevents him from playing the ball in a normal manner.”
Referee Gillett subsequently announced his final verdict to the crowd, confirming a direct free-kick for Coventry and ruling out the equalizer. It marked the second consecutive home match that Forest had fallen victim to controversial VAR interventions, following an incident against Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the campaign where Neco Williams had a goal chalked off for an accidental handball.
Glasner Refuses to Take the Bait
Asked for his thoughts on the contentious decision post-match, Glasner made it clear he had no intention of landing himself in hot water with regulatory authorities, keeping his response strictly measured.
”Of course I have thoughts but I don’t want to speak about it again,” Glasner told the BBC. “We had this big discussion after Tottenham, referee decided and that’s it.”
While biting his tongue on the officiating, the Forest boss did not shy away from addressing his team’s glaring shortcomings on the pitch. Expressing deep frustration and disappointment, Glasner pointed to a costly error in the buildup to Coventry’s goal and lamented his side’s ongoing struggles in front of home supporters.
”We wanted three points and the players gave everything until the end, but we made one big mistake, one big ball from the goalkeeper,” Glasner said. “We knew he had a very big strike and we got punished. We tried everything until the end, but we have to blame ourselves. It’s the third home game without a goal, and that makes it difficult to win.”
Tackling the ‘Heaviness of the Past’
Looking deeper into his squad’s psychological hurdles, Glasner admitted he sensed an underlying tension wrapping around the club during the match, attributing their current woes to the psychological baggage carried over from previous campaigns.
”We have to find a solution; today was the first time I could feel the heaviness of the past, it was very quiet in the dressing room,” Glasner confessed. “When we conceded the goal, everyone was nervous, the entire City Ground was nervous, and I think this is the reason of last year. There is nobody to blame; the solution is to play with more freedom and more confidence.”
As Forest look ahead to upcoming fixtures, Glasner and his squad face the urgent task of lifting that collective psychological weight if they are to turn the City Ground back into a fortress and reignite their Premier League campaign.
