Latest Nottingham Forest news as fallout continues from controversial Manchester United goal at the City Ground
14:02, 02 Nov 2025
Nottingham Forest's Ryan Yates, Nikola Milenkovic, Morgan Gibbs-White and Nicolo Savona speak to referee Darren England after Manchester United's opening goal
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Nottingham Forest's Ryan Yates, Nikola Milenkovic, Morgan Gibbs-White and Nicolo Savona speak to referee Darren England after Manchester United's opening goal(Image: PA)
Nottingham Forest have every right to feel aggrieved over Manchester United’s opening goal in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at the City Ground, according to pundit Alan Shearer.
The Reds fell behind to a Casemiro header in the first half of new head coach Sean Dyche’s first Premier League game in charge. But they were furious the corner from which the United man scored had been awarded in the first place.
Forest argued full-back Nicolo Savona had kept the ball in play. However, assistant referee Akil Howson indicated otherwise from the opposite side of the pitch.
A week ago, the Reds had a similar complaint when Bournemouth opened the scoring from a corner that replays showed should have been a goal-kick. After this weekend’s controversy, Dyche called for a change to the rules to allow VAR to intervene in such scenarios.
Former striker Shearer said on Match of the Day: "Sean Dyche has got a point. I'm not sure how the assistant over on the far side can actually see that far and be absolutely certain that the ball was out - because it isn't. It was nearly 70 yards away, so he can't be certain. It isn't, the ball isn't out.
"I agree with Sean. I understand his frustration and his anger, but I wouldn't say that we'd like to get VAR involved because the game is stopping and starting as it is.
"I know he says it will only take four or five seconds, but I wouldn't encourage that. But I would encourage the officials to do their job properly and get it right and not guess, because he's guessed there and got it wrong."
Ex-Red Michael Dawson also agreed Savona had kept the ball in play. He said on Sky Sports: "It's poor, poor defending from Nottingham Forest. However, the corner should not have been given.
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"How the official gives the ball out from a million miles away, he cannot see. The corner should not have been given.”
Former referee Mike Dean added: "It's not out. The assistant referee is looking through the two posts and the player and can't see it.
"The ball is nowhere near out! It's just a guess by the assistant referee.”
Speaking to the media after the game, Dyche blasted: “The assistant referee is stood 70 yards away and has a goal and a net in the way, but apparently can see it. That has got to be wrong in the current climate.
“Someone has got to be able to overrule these decisions. They are just really quick (to do). It will only take five seconds.
“Of course you can say you have got to deal with the corner, but the point is it shouldn’t have been that. That is really difficult.
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“That is really frustrating two weeks on the trot. With all the technology and all that’s at stake - particularly for us as a club with the start we’ve had - that’s a big moment. All of a sudden that goes against you, it’s very frustrating when it could be really easily cleared up.”
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