Nottingham Forest

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport Researcher

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Friday's Premier League game against Leicester (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On team news: "We are still assessing how the players are recovering."

• On Morgan Gibbs-White's recovery from injury: "It's a day-by-day process. He's better today - let's hope he is better tomorrow and we can keep assessing."

• Nuno said he "doesn't want to comment" on Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis' stadium ban: "We didn't have a chance to speak about it and it's an issue that isn't my concern. Hopefully it doesn't distract us and we can stay focused."

• On his own touchline ban: "We are making sure that things go normally like it did [against Crystal Palace]. We are in constant communication and we are trying to prepare for Leicester."

• He said his side's position in the league table is "not important", adding: "It's the performances that matter. What we want is to go to Leicester and compete in the same way that we did here at home and against Chelsea. Our bar is high and we want to keep going."

• On Steve Cooper facing Forest for the first time since leaving the club: "I think it's a normal day. Many managers manage a team and then face them. Steve did an amazing job here and will always be remembered. We are trying to follow on from his amazing work."

• On Friday's opponents: "[It will be] a tough match. It's not easy to achieve back-to-back wins in the Premier League and they have done it. They are in a good moment. We have to try to fight and be better than them. It's always the same philosophy."

Follow all of Wednesday's news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest are still appealing the five-game stadium ban handed to owner Evangelos Marinakis by the Football Association.

The FA released the written reasons from an independent regulatory commission on Tuesday.

It said Marinakis, who was charged with misconduct, spat on the floor as match officials walked past following the 1-0 home defeat by Fulham last month.

In his defence, Marinakis claimed he had a hacking cough because he smokes two or three cigars a day and the incident was unintentional.

The commission rejected this defence, pointing to the fact none of the officials' statements mentioned coughing and CCTV footage of the tunnel backed up that assertion.

The written reasons behind the decision said there was "no excuse" for such "an egregious display of disrespectful behaviour" that could "fuel disrespect towards match officials".

Marinakis' punishment includes all stadiums, not just the City Ground.

It followed boss Nuno Espirito Santo being given a three-game touchline ban for his reaction to Morgan Gibbs-White's red card in September's 2-2 draw at Brighton. Gibbs-White was also given a one-match suspension for his own reaction.

Pat Riddell
Fan writer

Image source, PA Media

There was a moment early on in Monday's match against Crystal Palace when Elliot Anderson danced past several defenders in a packed box, the ball practically glued to his feet, before sending a shot towards Dean Henderson's goal.

Seconds later, the midfielder whipped in an exquisite ball from distance that Chris Wood met with his head, narrowly missing the target; the kind of opportunity Wood scores more often than not.

And it was Anderson's run down the wing, and the looped ball that followed, which resulted in a headed clearance landing at Wood's feet. The striker did not need any further invitation to score the game's winning goal.

There was bewilderment when Forest signed 21-year-old Anderson in the summer for a fee said to be £35m. That was later reckoned to be £15m in the deal that sent Odysseas Vlachodimos the other way to Newcastle United.

Whatever the fee, the Geordie Maradona - a nickname he acquired while on loan at Bristol Rovers - is probably one of Forest's most astute signings in recent years. Eddie Howe is no doubt still lamenting the Magpies' profit and sustainability situation that saw him lose one of his most talented youngsters.

Always available and keen to be in possession, Anderson can pick a pass, carry the ball up the pitch, make runs into space and shoot from range. If anyone wondered where he would fit in, they wonder no longer. While clearly favouring being higher up the field, he can easily play as a number six, eight or 10.

Plus, if anyone wondered how Forest would cope without Morgan Gibbs-White - injured and suspended on Monday - then Anderson's performance against Palace proved that Forest's talented squad is now big enough to (almost) cope with star players missing.

It is rare that a new signing arrives and fits straight into the first XI. Like Nikola Milenkovic, Anderson is one of those signings, and one of the reasons that Forest now sit comfortably in eighth position in the Premier League.

Find more from Pat Riddell at The Famous Club, external

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Monday's Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace.

Here are some of your comments:

Forest fans

Doug: Very good performance, seeing as we had two key players out of the starting line-up. The most encouraging thing was that once we scored, we did not sit back and allow the opposing team to come on to us. A solid defensive performance as well.

Ken: A great win against a side who are better than their league position suggests. The table doesn't lie - we deserve to be where we are. So many brilliant performances from Matz Sels, Murillo, Nikola Milenkovic, Elliot Anderson, Ryan Yates and Chris Wood. Win on Friday and we can go fifth for 24 hours!

James: Another first-class performance by Nuno’s boys! Superb defensive line proving different for any team to breakdown! Pundits need to think again where Forest may finish this season. Many had written us off already but the Premier League has surprises every season. Fingers crossed the Reds will be one of them.

Palace fans

Mark: No lack of effort but lacking confidence. Too much on Eberechi Eze’s shoulders. Struggling in midfield due to injuries. Need a win and quickly. Going to be a long hard season. Must stick with the manager but we could be reliant on the promoted sides faltering or not improving. Massive six pointer against Wolves.

Christopher: Another defeat and of course things are now getting more and more gloomy. I simply cannot see where the goals are going to come from. The defence looks nervous and with a bad error from our goalkeeper, Dean Henderson is going to be extremely nervous against Spurs this Saturday, as will the fans. I’ll be at Selhurst, but it’s going to be a hard watch.

Gavin: Groundhog Day: We started well, but we cannot sustain any momentum. Tactical changes required as we do not look like scoring. Eddie Nketiah needs to play as an out-and-out number nine because he is persistently too deep. Ismaila Sarr should be used for his rapid pace and ability to cross into the box while the midfield is simply ineffective. Incredibly frustrating performances of late.