Nottingham Forest travelled to Brighton in the FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday, in a game where Nuno Espirito Santo’s team selection came under close scrutiny.
Espirito Santo was already dealt a blow as Chris Wood was unfit for the Brighton clash, meaning the Forest manager was forced into what have been rare changes this season.
Taiwo Awoniyi predictably started up front but it was behind the Nigerian striker where the bravest decision were made as Espirito Santo named both Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga on the bench.
Hudson-Odoi had a rest in the international break and whilst Elanga was on international duty with Sweden, few would’ve thought both would be rested especially without Wood up front. One of the most vociferous reactions came from Wayne Rooney on punditry, who made his feelings known before kick-off.
Photo by Jon Hobley | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Jon Hobley | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Wayne Rooney was ‘fuming’ with Nuno Espirito Santo’s team selection
After a cagey first half that lacked chances, both Hudson-Odoi and Elanga were introduced on the hour mark to help envigorate the Forest squad.
Rooney clearly thought that the pair should’ve been playing from the off, though, commenting on the decision on the BBC’s coverage of the game.
Rooney said: “I’m shocked, the FA Cup is such a prestigious competition so to rest players in the quarter-final when you’ve got such a great opportunity to make the semi-final.
“You’re trying to get Champions League football, which is fine but as a player, you want to play, you want to get momentum, you want to keep trying to win.
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“So to leave players out, if I was a fan I would be fuming. You want to win silverware so to leave players out when you’re not guaranteed to win the game is beyond belief for me.”
It’s hard to argue with Rooney’s take, especially when looking at how Danilo performed in his unfavoured wide position.
Nuno’s winger experiment didn’t pay off against Brighton
Espirito Santo’s tactics have been hailed this season but his first-half experiment didn’t quite pay off on Saturday, with Forest blunt in attack.
Morgan Gibbs-White performed reasonably in a slightly wider role, but central midfielder Danilo was clearly unsuited to the role.
Statistic Danilo vs Brighton
Chances created 0
Accurate crosses 0/3
Touches in the opposition box 0
Passes into the final third 1
Danilo’s struggles vs Brighton
Creating no chances, completing zero crosses and having no touches in Brighton’s box sums up the 23 year old’s display, making it bizarre that the Forest coaching staff even thought to try him in the role in the first place.
Forest fans haven’t been impressed by Danilo since he returned from injury but Saturday was far from his fault, clearly unsuited to an attacking role that could’ve even been filled by Jota Silva if Espirito Santo was determined to rest his star wingers.
The decision didn’t matter in the end as Forest triumphed in the eventual penalty shootout, but if it had gone the other way, the Forest boss may have had questions to answer.