Nottinghamshire

Pat Riddell
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

It is the business end of the season. We do not know if the next three Premier League games will define Nottingham Forest's season or not, but Newcastle, Arsenal and Manchester City are the three clubs around us in the table who really threaten our position in the top four.

Having started off the season thinking a comfortable, mid-table finish would be satisfying - avoiding a relegation battle the minimum target - the Reds have been in the top three for so long now that anything less than a place in Europe will be disappointing.

Except, we have to be prepared for disappointment... or do we? The complicated Uefa coefficient means England are quite likely to gain a fifth Champions League place next season, meaning eight clubs could qualify for European competition in 2025-26.

These sorts of permutations are, obviously, a long way from Nuno Espirito Santo's mind as Forest focus on the job in hand. Losing 2-1 at Fulham was not the ideal follow-up to thrashing Brighton 7-0. But then Brighton beating Chelsea 3-0 at the weekend was hardly predicted either.

The Premier League has occasional seasons where almost anything can happen, and when these kinds of ups and downs occur it can often be in Forest's favour. At the moment, keeping our core squad fit and maintaining the mentality, momentum and belief is all important.

The fans can be thinking as far ahead as we like - and there is no doubt we all have - but Nuno is always focused on the immediate.

The back five worked against Brighton to great effect in the absence of Callum Hudson-Odoi, but backfired miserably against Fulham.

Hopefully we have our first-choice XI fit for the next three games and beyond, and the permutations will be left for other clubs to ponder.

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Image source, Getty Images

Former England batter Alex Hales will not return to Nottinghamshire Outlaws to play in the T20 Blast this summer.

The 36-year-old opener, who became the second-highest runscorer in the history of T20 cricket earlier this month, has played for Nottinghamshire for 17 consecutive seasons.

However, he has recently relocated to Dubai and has decided not to sign a white-ball contract with the Outlaws.

Hales said Trent Bridge was his "favourite place in the world to play cricket" and he would like to "return at some point" but looks set to take up franchise opportunities in the Caribbean Premier League and Major League Cricket instead.

He is the Outlaws' all-time leading T20 run-scorer, with 4,825 runs in the format, and has made a total of 25 centuries in Nottinghamshire colours.

"Given the current landscape of the global game as well as having recently moved abroad, unfortunately I won't be able to return this season," Hales said.

Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell added: "While he won't be joining us this summer, we are by no means closing the door on him making a return to Notts at some stage in the future."

Hales played 11 Tests, 70 one-day internationals and 75 T20s for England between 2011 and 2022.

He hit centuries in each of England's ODI world-record breaking innings at Trent Bridge, and was part of the team which won the T20 World Cup in 2022.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Fulham and Nottingham Forest.

Here are some of your comments:

Fulham fans:

Bill: A very classy performance from everyone, and nice to do the double over Forest. Wonderful cameo from Willian!

Michael: I consider it one of the team's best performances of the year.. As an old Fulham fan, it is a delight to watch this - let's be happy! Please keep hold of Marco Silva. We are on the brink of something special over the next few years.

Derek: Overall we were excellent. Built from a platform in midfield by Sander Berge and the excellent Sasa Lukic. His contribution often goes unnoticed other than the regular yellow cards, but he was immense.

Wayland: The whole team stepped up to another level, Adama Traore was superb. We should have been out of sight but the Forest keeper was their best player to somehow keep it to 2-1.

Forest fans:

Fraser: Difficult away at Craven Cottage. Onwards and upwards for the mighty Reds. Tough games coming with Arsenal and Manchester City to play in next few games. We're still defying the odds!

John: We got what we deserved. Disappointed as we lost the midfield and created very few chances - Chris Wood doing it all on his own to equalise. Matz Sels was fantastic again, keeping us in it till the end. They always looked like scoring, not us.

Oliver: From start to finish Forest were not clinical enough and their goal was dodgy as Calvin Bassey slipped. They were too laid back and let Fulham cut right through their defence, play the ball out wide and cross it in. This led to them conceding easy headers. Forest didn't have the composure that Fulham had and this ultimately lead to a shocking performance and a brutal defeat.

Mike: Credit to Fulham, they played well. But Forest gave this game to them. Tactically, the manager got it wrong and the team spent most of the game playing like they were just trying to hang on. The players looked lethargic and devoid of inspiration. Maybe they should have spent their break in Skegness instead of Dubai?

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Brighton and Chelsea.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Man City 4-0 Newcastle

• Crystal Palace 1-2 Everton