Nottingham Forest are taking on Brentford this weekend and the referee has been announced.
The Reds have a love-hate relationship with match officials – certainly since the club won promotion to the Premier League.
Nuno Espirito Santo has served a three-match touchline ban this season and Forest are on the radar of the Premier League.
Evangelos Marinakis has written to the PGMOL on several occasions to discuss the overall standards of referees.
He was incensed after a game against Fulham earlier in the season and Marinakis ended up with a five-match stadium ban.
Now, Forest are fourth in the Premier League and it appears that the PGMOL are making the big boys look after the Reds on a more frequent basis.
Michael Oliver reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between Bologna FC 1909 and LOSC Lille at Stadio Renato Dall...
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Referee named for Brentford vs Nottingham Forest
Well, the top brass is in charge on Saturday as Michael Oliver prepares for a Forest game for the second time this month.
He was also in charge as the Reds lost 3-0 at Manchester City and it has to be said that he’s the best in the business at the Premier League level.
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It would also be a positive omen for Forest.
Oliver was in charge when the Reds stunned Anfield in September and won and he also oversaw the second leg of the Play-Off semi-final against Sheffield United in 2022.
The Reds fans can’t dwell on referees and this season, the club really doesn’t need to.
Forest aren’t going to be in a relegation battle this season and frankly, that is more of a relief than anything.
With 28 points on the board, the club can aim higher and it won’t be a referee who costs the team a place in the top flight next season this time around.
If we’re going to moan at Oliver being appointed then we might as well go home.
He’s comfortably the best that England has to offer and regularly gets picked for big games in the Champions League.
Brentford are formidable on home soil and Forest will hope to go there – full of confidence – and put on a bit of a show.