Nottingham Forest's start to the Premier League season has been marked by VAR controversy and a search for points. The club sits 16th in the table with two points from three games following a goalless draw with Tottenham Hotspur that featured a disallowed goal.
Neco Williams thought he had scored a 67th-minute winner for Nottingham Forest against Tottenham on September 5.'s analysis, the video assistant referee Peter Bankes reviewed the incident and recommended referee Craig Pawson overturn the goal for a handball offense. The VAR determined the ball struck Williams' arm immediately before it crossed the line, which under the laws of the game requires the goal to be disallowed regardless of intent.
Former Select Group referee Andy Davies, writing for ESPN, explained the review process. He noted the in-goal camera provided the decisive angle, showing the ball changing trajectory after contact with Williams' arm. "Once you see the decisive replays from inside Spurs' goal, it is a straightforward decision for the VAR, as the law dictates the outcome," Davies wrote. The decision left Forest frustrated in a match that ended 0-0.
The VAR incident compounded a difficult opening period for Nottingham Forest. The club has managed just two points from their first three matches, with a record of zero wins, two draws and one loss. Their recent form reads DDL, and they've scored only two goals while conceding three for a minus-one goal difference.
Forest currently sit seven points behind early leaders Manchester City. Their next challenge comes away to Aston Villa on September 12, a fixture against another side struggling in the bottom half. The team's attacking output will need improvement to climb the table.
Managerial options are limited by at least one confirmed absence. Winger Nicolò Savona is currently sidelined and unavailable for selection. His absence reduces attacking depth as Forest seeks solutions in the final third. The full extent of the squad's availability can be monitored on the club's injuries page.
With Savona out, other players will need to step up to create and convert chances. Forest's upcoming fixtures present opportunities to build momentum, starting with the trip to Villa Park. The team travels to face 17th-placed Aston Villa on September 12.
