Elliot Anderson sends ‘important’ Nottingham message, Sean Longstaff reacts
Nottingham Forest’s hopes of Champions League football next season suffered another blow after they drew with Crystal Palace on Monday.
Nuno Espirito Santo‘s side have slipped down from third to sixth in the Premier League table after a run of one win in their last five games, and that’s allowed Man City, Newcastle and Chelsea to overtake them.
Forest had the chance to claw themselves back level on points with the latter duo when they travelled to Selhurst Park on 5 May, but were forced to come from behind and secure a 1-1 draw in South London.
Eberechi Eze’s penalty on the hour was quickly cancelled out four minutes later as Murillo steered Neco Williams’ shot into the bottom corner, but Forest will still see their fightback to draw as points dropped.
Nottingham Forest countdown made clear by Elliot Anderson
Forest’s recent fall-off in form has seen them drop out of the Premier League’s five Champions League places for only the second time this season, with just three games left to rectify their latest results.
Midfielder Elliot Anderson – signed last summer from one of their direct qualification rivals Newcastle – has been a revelation in red this term, and did his best to rally Forest fans and players alike on social media.
| Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GD | Points |
| 3 | Manchester City | 35 | 19 | 7 | 9 | +24 | 64 |
| 4 | Newcastle United | 35 | 19 | 6 | 10 | +21 | 63 |
| 5 | Chelsea | 35 | 18 | 9 | 8 | +21 | 63 |
| 6 | Nottingham Forest | 35 | 18 | 7 | 10 | +12 | 61 |
| 7 | Aston Villa | 35 | 17 | 9 | 9 | +6 | 60 |
Nuno’s side have already-relegated Leicester, lowly West Ham and Champions League chasers Chelsea in their final three matches, with the latter’s trip to the City Ground potentially a straight shoot-out.
In an Instagram post (5 May) liked by his former Magpies team-mate Sean Longstaff, the 22-year-old sent a clear message to his team-mates, and said: “An important point! Three to go and all to play for.”
Nottingham Forest futures depend on Champions League
Although Anderson has defied all expectations to become a pillar of Forest’s midfield after his move from Newcastle, Reds fans are well aware that they will need to take the signings up a notch next season.
With European qualification assured but Champions League football far from a certainty, Forest will be keen to earn a spot in the latter if they’re to secure top targets such as Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.
Furthermore, after Morgan Gibbs-White was sounded out by Man City as a possible successor to Kevin De Bruyne, Forest could be consigned to lose their talisman this summer if they don’t book their place in Europe’s elite.