Nottingham

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Nuno Espirito Santo still has faith in referees despite insisting the situation surrounding Morgan Gibbs-White's red card was a "mess".

The Nottingham Forest boss was sent off in the 2-2 draw at Brighton on Sunday in the aftermath of Gibbs-White's dismissal.

The England international walked after being given a second yellow card for his 83rd-minute challenge on Joao Pedro.

The pair have been charged by the Football Association for their reactions but Nuno will be on the touchline for the visit of Fulham on Saturday after Forest were given until Wednesday [2 October] to present their observations.

Nuno said at the start of the season he trusted the officials - after Forest's high profile issues last term - and Sunday's red cards has not changed that.

"Not at all. We are positive there has been a big effort from referees to improve and make things right and not influence the game," said Nuno, who confirmed he apologised to the officials for his reaction after the game.

"We trust them and are here to support them. But the game is the game.

"Up until today I saw the image many times and I'm not sure sometimes. It looks like a yellow card sometimes, others it's a good tackle. It's a hard one to judge.

"That's why I think us as a club and all the clubs should support the referee as it's a tough task.

"It's very difficult. In that moment Morgan made that effort for the team.

"We were unbalanced, knowing that any goal in that particular moment of the game would be definitive. It's emotional, we are under a lot of stress."

The Key Match Incidents Panel was split 3-2 over Gibbs-White's red card with the majority believing official Robert Jones was wrong to issue a second caution.

But Nuno conceded the confusion, after referee Jones signalled with his hands Gibbs-White - who will miss the visit of the Cottagers - won the ball, did not help.

"That was the mess. But let's hope they improve and we continue," he said, with Forest unbeaten in their opening five Premier League games.

"I don't want to see it as a problem. I see it as a very hard job to do."

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Nuno Espirito Santo will be on the touchline when Nottingham Forest host Fulham on Saturday.

The manager was expected to be banned after he was sent off in Sunday's 2-2 draw at Brighton on Sunday.

But Forest have been given more time to submit their observations after Nuno and Morgan Gibbs-White were charged by the Football Association. They initially had until Friday but requested an extension and now have until Wednesday, 2 October.

Nuno has accepted the blame but is yet to accept the charge.

"There’s always an answer and a response - we will respond to the charges," Nuno said. "I think we deserve an opportunity to answer our view on the incident and we will do so as a club.

"It’s very difficult for managers to control their emotions sometimes. It happens with a lot of managers. It’s an emotional game, an emotional situation - sometimes it’s hard.

"I had the chance to apologise for my behaviours. I think it was accepted. I will try hard not to repeat it."

Nuno was charged by the FA with acting in an improper manner, with the Portuguese manager also alleged to have used abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official.

He was sent off after Gibbs-White was dismissed for receiving a second yellow card for a strong tackle on Joao Pedro with seven minutes left.

The Key Match Incidents panel, which reviews the main decisions in the Premier League each week, was split 3-2, with the majority believing official Robert Jones was wrong to dismiss the midfielder.

The England international has been charged by the Football Association with acting in an improper manner and/or using abusive and/or insulting words towards fourth official Anthony Taylor.

Nuno already has a suspended one-game touchline ban - handed out in August - following his comments after Forest's controversial 2-0 defeat at Everton in April,which saw the club question the integrity of VAR Stuart Attwell on social media.

Martin Dougan
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Fulham (kick-off 15:00).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On his red card against Brighton last weekend: "The charge has been made but I’m going to be available to be at the game. We are just waiting for the final result. Everyone saw the situation, It’s very difficult for a manager to control their emotions. It’s an emotional game with emotional situations. I had a chance to apologise for my behaviour and I think it was accepted. I’ll try not to repeat it."

• He is thrilled to be one of only four unbeaten Premier League teams so far: "We are delighted with that statistic. We want it to continue and we have to work very hard to achieve it. It’s about how we want to progress as a team and what is important now is that every player is putting the team ahead of the individual."

• On Chris Wood's excellent recent form: "He’s a top professional and a fantastic striker. It’s not only about the goals that he scores - it's his voice in the dressing room and what he means for the team and his team-mates. We trust him and I hope it continues."

• He knows Fulham will pose a tough challenge: "Very difficult. Fulham are a good team with good players and a good manager. They are playing good, they are an offensive threat and they defend well."

• However, he is pleased to see Fulham striker Raul Jimenez playing and in form again. Nuno was the Mexico striker's manager when he suffered a head injury against Arsenal in November 2020: "We are always delighted when we meet former players we have worked with. With Raul, it’s always special because of the incident and to watch him coming back and playing football is great. [But] he’s going to be our opponent and we have to be ready to stop him. I am really pleased to see him enjoying football."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Before the first game of the season, Nuno Espirito Santo promised to stop moaning about referees and vowed to trust them.

"I hope not [to moan], honestly," said the Forest boss before the 1-1 draw with Bournemouth in August.

"We had a nice meeting, the managers, and he [referees' chief Howard Webb] explained in detail the changes that they want to implement. Decisions to take less time, better decisions, I'm confident. We have to trust the referees."

Six weeks later, Nuno has been handed a charge by the Football Association for acting in an improper manner and allegedly using abusive and insulting language towards match officials.

It came after Morgan Gibbs-White's red card in Sunday's 2-2 draw at Brighton, with Nuno and Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler dismissed by referee Rob Jones for their reactions to the incident on the touchline.

Nuno can possibly be forgiven for his reaction, given the Key Match Incidents Panel was split on whether Gibbs-White should have been issued a second yellow card for his 83rd-minute tackle on Joao Pedro.

Yet it shows in the heat of the moment, despite the manager's best intentions, emotions can take over.

Nuno, who will be missing from the dugout for Forest's game against Fulham on Saturday, is usually reserved in his news conferences but today he will be asked about the red card and his reaction.