Nottingham Forest

Melissa Edwards
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Aston Villa at Villa Park (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Nicolo Savona remains the only player sidelined with his knee inury. The defender has faced a few set-backs but has "reacted fine" to slow rehabilitation.

• Glasner said he is not happy with the explanation given by the Premier League to rule out Forest's goal against Tottenham last week for a handball by Neco Williams. However, the Austrian accepted the decision as it is a "democracy", and says the incident is "in the past".

• Forest have scored two goals in three Premier League matches, and Glasner says his team are missing "the final bit" in goalscoring situations and his solution is to create more of those situations.

• On squad depth, Glasner said: "Every position is occupied by two players. We have plenty of options which is positive, the new players are doing well and we can see they're training well every week. We can see how much of a positive impact Xaver Schlager has had so far. We want competition everywhere."

• Glasner also added that he was "surprised" by Schlager's start to the season after a difficult end to the 2025-26 campaign for the midfielder, and that his biggest strength is "trying to improve".

• On Jair Cunha receiving his first national team call-up for Brazil, he said: "It's a huge achievement for him at 21-years-old. You can see how quickly things can happen in football. We've been together for around two months and from day one he was listening, working hard and asking what he can improve."

Got a question about Forest? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts

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Nottingham Forest head coach Oliver Glasner has praised Jair Cunha's "willingness to learn" after the defender received a first Brazil call up.

Brazil take on Australia twice and face India over the international break from late September into early October.

Cunha, 21, has won age-group caps for Brazil but has never had a senior call-up.

Speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray, Glasner said his advice will be for Cunha to "enjoy" the experience.

"Show who you are," said Glasner. "Show your strength. If you are called by, not just Brazil but Carlo Ancelotti, definitely one of the most successful and experienced managers in the world, you definitely deserve it.

"This would be my advice, play with confidence, train with confidence and enjoy the time."

Glasner's primary focus however will be helping Forest to a first win of their league campaign when they visit Aston Villa on Saturday. The Reds have not won at Villa Park since 1994.

"We are feeling we are dong well," said Glasner. "We know we can do better in a few parts of the game, especially the final third to create more chances and goals. We go there to get the win, with this confidence but every single Premier League game is this huge challenge.

"It's clear if something hasn't happened since 1994, it's definitely time to change it. We will be highly motivated to not be talking about these statistics anymore."

Listen to Glasner speak with Fray below or here on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League has announced it will stage seven matches on Boxing Day this year after releasing its festive schedule.

Four fixtures will be staged at 15:00 GMT, with further matches played at 12:30, 17:30 and 20:00.

The fixture programme for 26 December, which falls on a Saturday in 2026, is considerably bigger than last year, when one game was held.

Three matches will be played on Sunday, 27 December, while three further rounds of games will be held over a period up to Thursday, 7 January.

A round of evening midweek fixtures will staged on 29-30 December, while Leeds will host Everton (20:00) for the only match on New Year's Day.

The remainder of that round will be held over the weekend of 2-3 January, with the fourth round of games spread across the evenings of 5-7 January.

The Premier League has brought forward the announcement of fixture scheduling over the Christmas and New Year period after consultation with both broadcast partners and the Football Supporters' Association and representatives from club Fan Advisory Boards.

Television scheduling for Premier League fixtures has been announced up to Monday, 2 November, with broadcast selections for the remaining games in November and December to be announced in the weeks commencing 21 September and 19 October respectively.

The Premier League has guaranteed clubs at least a 60-hour break between fixtures over the festive period to address the concerns over a congested festive schedule that follows recent expansions of the European and international calendars.

Premier League Christmas and New Year schedule

Saturday, 26 December

12:30 Aston Villa v Leeds

15:00 Everton v Sunderland

15:00 Fulham v Brighton

15:00 Ipswich v Brentford

15:00 Spurs v AFC Bournemouth

17:30 Hull v Liverpool

20:00 Newcastle v Manchester City

Sunday, 27 December

14:00 Coventry v Chelsea

16:30 Manchester Utd v Nottingham Forest

19:00 Crystal Palace v Arsenal

Tuesday, 29 December

19:30 Hull v Leeds

19:30 Spurs v Brighton

20:15 Everton v Manchester City

Wednesday, 30 December

19:30 Coventry v Brentford

19:30 Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth

19:30 Fulham v Arsenal

19:30 Manchester United v Sunderland

19:30 Newcastle v Nottingham Forest

20:15 Aston Villa v Liverpool

20:15 Ipswich v Chelsea

Friday, 1 January

20:00 Leeds v Everton

Saturday, 2 January

12:30 Brighton v Manchester United

15:00 Arsenal v Ipswich

15:00 Brentford v Crystal Palace

15:00 Liverpool v Coventry

15:00 Nottingham Forest v Fulham

15:00 Sunderland v Hull

17:30 AFC Bournemouth v Aston Villa

Sunday, 3 January

14:00 Chelsea v Newcastle

16:30 Manchester City v Spurs

Tuesday, 5 January

19:30 Arsenal v Brentford

19:30 Brighton v AFC Bournemouth

19:30 Everton v Aston Villa

19:30 Nottingham Forest v Hull

20:15 Sunderland v Liverpool

Wednesday, 6 January

19:30 Crystal Palace v Chelsea

19:30 Fulham v Spurs

19:30 Ipswich v Coventry

20:15 Leeds v Manchester City

Thursday, 7 January

20:00 Manchester United v Newcastle

Nick Mashiter
Football news reporter

The latest on Nottingham Forest's planned stadium work has been the subject of several questions sent in via our Ask Me Anything form for the Reds.

Well, the redevelopment of the City Ground is getting closer, with Rushcliffe Borough Council's planning committee meeting on 16 September to consider the club's proposals to raise the capacity to over 50,000.

The applications is for full planning permission to redevelop the Peter Taylor Stand and Trent End and for "demolition of existing buildings/structures".

Forest are also seeking planning permission to redevelop the Brian Clough Stand in the future.

The plans have the backing of local residents and the city's MPs so the development is expected to be granted. It is a case of going through the right process - which takes time.

Of course, it was hoped worked would have started in the summer, but it is a complex process, with things like transport plans to take into consideration when there are an extra 20,000 fans in the area.

An awful lot of work has gone on behind the scenes so once the plans are given the green light they can proceed.

We could see a little work start during the season but, given the Premier League campaign is under way, nothing significant is expected to start until next summer.

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Former Nottingham Forest winger Paul Anderson says Oliver Glasner "has the personnel" to play his preferred wing-back system, but believes it will "take time" to fully bear its fruits.

"I've been coaching for over five years now and I love the formation," he told BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up And Show More Football podcast.

"It allows you to outnumber an opposition team anywhere on the pitch. It also gives you the option of having two strikers - one of which can drop into the middle of the pitch and give you the option of four midfielders.

"That way, you can either overload the middle of the pitch or go man-to-man when you're playing against a back four.

"You've got to have the personnel to play it, though. You've got to have intelligent players that can drop in and work off each other, and your wing-backs have to be fit.

"It probably would have suited me as a player because I was quite a defensive winger anyway. It would have been hard work, but I would have loved it."

Despite the Reds failing to win any of their opening three league matches this season, Anderson did highlight some positives.

"Nottingham Forest have very strong centre-backs at the minute," he said.

"I've been very impressed by Jair Cunha as well, he has been making it hard for Ousmane Diomande to make it into the team, despite the club spending money on him.

"There is always going to be a question mark over Murillo's fitness, but if he is fit and at 100% then this formation suits him perfectly. The same goes for Nikola Milenkovic - it is perfect for him.

"It also suits the midfield. It is a formation which is going to allow Morgan Gibbs-White and James McAtee more space in there.

"So they definitely have players in the squad who can do a job in this formation, it is just going to take time to come together."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds here

Former Forest winger Paul Anderson has joined BBC Radio Nottingham for their latest instalment of the Shut Up And Show More Football podcast.

Alongside regular hosts David Jackson and Colin Fray, Anderson discusses wing-backs, VAR and the City Ground.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Nottingham Forest content on BBC Sounds

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

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Nottingham Forest should not have been awarded a penalty at Liverpool for Alisson's challenge on Neco Williams, the Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel has said.

But the KMI Panel added that the decision did not reach the threshold for a video assistant referee intervention, so Michael Oliver was correct not to send referee Sam Barrott to the pitchside monitor.

Williams was brought down by Alisson after releasing a shot in the 68th minute.

Morgan Gibbs-White scored to put Forest 2-1 in front, before Victor Munoz secured a 2-2 draw for Liverpool with an 82nd-minute equaliser.

The KMI Panel voted 3:2 that Barrott should not have given the penalty, but supported the VAR outcome 5:0.

It is possible for the panel to judge them differently because a VAR intervention has a higher threshold than an on-field decision.

"The contact from Alisson was inevitable as a consequence of his momentum in attempting to save the ball," the KMI Panel said. "The contact made was not reckless and below the threshold for a penalty.

"However, the non intervention by the VAR was unanimously supported on the basis that it was not a clear and obvious error."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Nottingham Forest's global head of football Edu leaving after just over a year at the City Ground.

Here are some of your comments:

Sean: We tried it and it didn't work for us. A turbulent, four-manager season isn't really what was expected. The thing with transfers is that you really need to work with the manager because they know the team best. From the moment Edu and Nuno Espirito Santo fell out it was always going to be a problematic appointment. Hopefully we've learned from this experiment.

Nicholas: About time Edu left the club, as it was primarily him who upset the apple cart. The harmony that Nuno brought to the club was lost needlessly and started the demise, which will be hard to rekindle for any future manager. I'm glad he's gone. It should have been Edu and not Nuno who left this time last year.

Scott: The right decision, if rather late. As an interested observer, rather than a participant (obviously), Edu seemed like the wrong guy in the wrong position. He seems to have cost us Nuno, which remains a sacking offence in itself, and appears to have contributed little. Let's move on.

Doug: About time Edu was biffed out of the club, as he brought nothing and added nothing to Forest. We are better off without him. Good riddance.

Stuart: Good riddance. Caused nothing but trouble from the day he arrived, contributed nothing and caused the departure of many a good man.

Global head of football Edu has left Nottingham Forest after just over a year at the City Ground.

The former Arsenal midfielder has not attended a games since February and his exit, with his contract believed to have been terminated, has been expected.

His position came under the spotlight after a falling-out with Nuno Espirito Santo, who was sacked last September, the first of four managers at Forest last season.

• Read more on the story

Nuno hinted at internal tensions and said at the time his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis had changed.

Edu is not expected to be replaced, with Forest's chief football officer George Syrianos assuming his responsibilities.

What do you think about this development?

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We asked for your views on the decision to rule out Neco Williams' goal against Tottenham for handball - and the wider impact of VAR on the game. Lower down this page you can see Forest fan Ellie Molloson explain she's sometimes "scared" to celebrate a goal given VAR can intervene.

Here are some of your comments:

Matthew: Wow, I'm a Forest fan since Clough became the manager in the 70s. I've seen a lot to frustrate me - but never been scared to celebrate a goal. Most times you can tell if it's going to be reviewed but sometimes you get caught out like Saturday. But it's part of the game, seen plenty of goals given over the years that shouldn't have been.

Steve: VAR is re-reffing the games. It's not what it was brought in for. It wasn't a clear and obvious mistake by the ref. It's made the game worse in my view as someone who goes to games home and away.

Ken: The fan experience has certainly been ruined but on this occasion, it was at least the correct decision. I wish Stuart Atwell had been this decisive when he allowed Sesko's goal to stand in May earlier this year!

Richard: Not that it makes any difference now, but 'clear and Obvious' never came into this decision from either VAR or the referee. The ref never went to check the monitor and even this video of poor quality (which wasn't available at the time) is not CLEAR AND OBVIOUS.

Nottingham Forest fan Ellie Molloson has expressed unhappiness with the VAR decision to disallow Neco Williams' goal against Tottenham Hotspur in the 0-0 game on Saturday.

Williams was adamant the ball came off his head and did not touch his hand after the VAR disallowed his goal. New footage - which you can watch below on this Nottingham Forest page - has since emerged of the incident.

Supporter Molloson said: "We were told at the start of the season there would be a higher threshold for on-field decisions being overturned. Already we have a very questionable decision.

"It ruins the fan experience, it's scary to celebrate goals now because no matter how sure you are there is a risk.

"I've gone back and watched that clip so many times and I still cannot comfortably say that is a hand ball. It's not clear, it is not obvious.

"Forest have been robbed two points."

Has the fan experience been ruined by VAR? Do you worry celebrating goals too early? Should the goal have stood? Get in touch with your views here.

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

New video footage has been released that shows the ball coming off Neco Williams' arm in the lead-up to his disallowed goal in the 0-0 draw against Tottenham Hotspur.

The Nottingham Forest defender bundled the ball home in the 67th minute but video assistant referee Peter Bankes stepped in to rule out the goal for accidental handball.

Williams and Forest manager Oliver Glasner were adamant after the match that there was no proof the ball touched an arm.

While the footage vindicates the VAR's decision, it may not end the arguments about the decision to rule out the goal.

The new camera angle was not one of those available to Bankes during the game - so it is unlikely to end the anger from Forest fans over the validity of the intervention, even if we know the VAR was ultimately correct.

On the new footage, Williams touches the ball with his left arm then his right forearm before it goes into the net.

The VAR hub only has access to the broadcast cameras, and this camera was one of several which does not transmit as part of match coverage.

Bankes believed the proof on the angles he had available came from the ripple of Williams' shirt as the ball touched his right forearm.

BBC Sport understands that Pro Ref - the new name for the refereeing body that was previously called Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) - is completely happy with the decision to rule out the goal.

There is irritation within Pro Ref about how the story has developed, partly because Williams was so unequivocal that the ball had not touched his arm - when there is now evidence to the contrary.

"I've seen the images and the replays and at not one moment did I think I handballed it," Williams told Sky Sports.

"I have seen all the images and at not one moment can you tell that has clearly hit my arms, because it never. I knew straight away I've headed it down in between my arms. It didn't hit my arm."

The feeling is that if Williams had not been so certain with his comments that the criticism would not have been as strong.

Read more on the context surrounding Williams' disallowed goal

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham.

Here are some of your comments:

Forest fans

Peter: The VAR call was ridiculous but at least we didn't lose. My biggest concern is our poor form at the City Ground. Is it now one win in our past 11 league games? We have to improve at home if we're to progress this season.

Sean: Going forward, our passing was crisp and precise and we should have put more away before the disallowed goal. I've got concerns about our defending, though, as we always seem to leave too much space or get into a situation where it feels like a last-gasp or hanging-on style of defending. A point is a point at least, and the signs are looking a lot better in terms of our performance. Liam Delap could be the signing of the season for us.

Tony: Forest were good enough for three points. Everyone is agreeing that there was no clear and obvious error in the referee's original decision but no-one has mentioned that, when the ball went over the line, neither of the Spurs defenders appealed for handball.

James: Poor VAR decisions throughout. Goal should have stood, we should have had a penalty and Spurs got away with some rough challenges. But we still shuld have done better.

Spurs fans

Trev: Some improvement in defence against an average opposition. Disappointed at the performance in central midfield, where there were very few quick, intelligent passes. Pedro Porro was good as usual. Mathys Tel lacked incisiveness on the left, allowing the opposition too much time.

Neil: Nothing to panic about. Anyone who has objectively watched all three games can see the improvement in each. I'm expecting a win against Everton on Saturday. My son is being born on Tuesday and it will be the first game he watches. That's got to bring us some luck... right?

Ricky: We are in another relegation battle. It's obvious to see on the pitch that none of our expensive new signings are fully committed to the club. We should have saved our money and kept Luke Vuskovic, Mikey Moore and Will Lankshear rather than invest in players that Manchester City, Chelsea and Brighton were more than happy to sell to us!

Edward: We need time. A goalless draw is a good sign and start. Now we need to build on that. Building on scoring and trying to win are the next priorities. Then from there, we start to build a better understanding among the players and then that's when you get the idea of team spirit and structure. All this needs to happen but none of it happens overnight. Please be patient and then good things will happen.

Niall McCaughan
Final Score reporter at the City Ground

Image source, Getty Images

There was never any doubt that lots of discussion post-match would be about Tottenham, their start to the season and the big spend on players this summer.

Sometimes, though, the best signings are free.

Have Nottingham Forest got themselves a gem in Xaver Schlager?

The Austria international arrived at the City Ground on a free transfer this summer after spending the past four years with RB Leipzig, reuniting with ex-boss Oliver Glasner, who previously coached him at Wolfsburg.

Against Spurs, he was outstanding. Full of energy, strong in the tackle, looking to be positive in possession. He cut the figure of one of those players who perhaps goes about his business without much fuss. The final stats showed he won 100% of his tackles and had a 90% pass accuracy rate.

In a summer when more money has been spent than ever before - including hundreds of millions of talent on display at the City Ground on Saturday - could a player picked up for nothing become one of the best signings of the season?

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

The biggest issue with judging handball is often determining if the ball did actually hit the arm, and that is the crux of Nottingham Forest's argument.

Neco Williams is adamant the ball came off his head and did not touch his hand, evidence which of course would not be available to the VAR.

Even having a chip in the ball, like at the World Cup, would not help here as the head and hands were so close together.

This is not about a clear and obvious error, as that covers subjective incidents like potential penalties.

It is a factual overturn so the VAR, Peter Bankes, is looking for definitive proof. This is similar but without taking into account what the referee, Craig Pawson, says he has seen.

Definitive proof can be seen as a higher bar than clear and obvious, because it is a factual decision - that the ball definitely touched the goalscorer's arm.

Oliver Glasner, Williams and most of the Forest fanbase refuse to accept that evidence does exist, and that there were no grounds to disallow the goal.

These decisions come down to one factor - the judgement of who is in the VAR room on a given match.

It is unavoidable that another VAR on a different day might feel the threshold of proof had not been crossed, and allow the goal to stand.

And this will always be one of the major frustrations with VAR.

Harry Maguire's goal against Ipswich last weekend was allowed despite a handball because his shot was going wide before it was deflected, meaning it was an own goal.

In Williams' case, he actually was the goalscorer so any touch on the arm means the goal must be ruled out.

The only thing that would have saved the goal was if the ball had fully crossed the line before it was kicked against Williams.

Read more here

Match of the Day pundits Danny Murphy and Rob Edwards say Nottingham Forest should feel hard done by after Neco Williams' goal was chalked off by VAR.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Oliver Glasner took the applause from the emptying City Ground as he grabbed his coat from the dugout.

They are yet to see his Nottingham Forest side score a goal at home this season but their frustration was directed to referee Craig Pawson.

The decision to disallow Neco Williams' goal, after Micky van de Ven and Sandro Tonali failed to clear Morgan Gibbs-White's goalbound chip, drew most of their anger.

It was controversial, Williams bundling in during comical Spurs defending, and added to the frustration of opening the season to two draws and a defeat.

Glasner knows - and has said - he needs time and Forest showed enough willing and determination to prove they are on the right track, even without the victory.