Latest Nottingham Forest news as Nuno Espirito Santo's Reds beaten 1-0 by Everton at the City Ground
Everton boss David Moyes knows all about plotting a course to Europe, and he has offered some words of advice to Nottingham Forest as they aim to do the same.
Champions League qualification remains in the Reds' hands with six games to go. But head coach Nuno Espirito Santo hinted at a touch of nerves creeping in as Saturday's 1-0 reverse at home to the Toffees made it back-to-back defeats for his side.
Moyes steered Everton through four European campaigns during his first spell at the club and also guided West Ham United to Europa Conference League success. The Scot believes Forest have set the bar for Premier League teams looking to upset the established order this term, but he sympathises with how tricky it can be to navigate the last few steps.
Asked if the hardest part in any European push is getting over the line, Moyes said after the full-time whistle at the City Ground: "Well, I always remember thinking that somewhere in the run-in that you're probably going to have to win one of the big games. There'll be games that you should win, but you're going to have to win one of the big games. I think you have to find a way of picking up wins which maybe people are not expecting you to do.
"Nottingham Forest at the moment are someone which we should all look to. If we could have a season like Nottingham Forest this year, next year, then I'd be hugely thrilled - in amongst the Champions League teams, semi-final of the FA Cup.
"They're doing unbelievably well. But I thought in the main, we deserved our victory.
"Unless I'm seeing it wrong, it would be hard to say that we didn't deserve that. The result, maybe it was just Forest a little bit down, big games to come, thoughts in their mind, I don't know.
"They have done remarkably well. I think if you'd given Nottingham Forest Europe, never mind Champions League - and I'm fortunate enough the last few years I've had Europa League and the Conference League - I think Nottingham Forest would have snapped your hand off for that.
"The position they're in is incredible, and what they've done. We'll need to wait and see if they make it over the line for Champions League, but it looks as if they're certain to get into one of the European competitions."
Forest were well below par against Everton on the banks of the Trent. They had looked on course to at least claim a draw but Abdoulaye Doucoure scored the only goal of the game in the 94th minute to condemn the hosts to defeat.
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