Steve Cooper criticises standard of Premier League officials as Nott’m Forest lose to Everton

Steve Cooper criticises the standard of officials in the Premier League as his Nott’m Forest side lose 1-0 at home to Everton.

Dwight McNeil’s only goal of the game won it for the Toffees, Murillo cleared an effort off the goal line, Felipe smack his effort against post for Forest, and Cooper complained about a “big error” from VAR on a penalty call.

His side suffer back-to-back home Premier League defeats, leaving the Reds sitting 15th in the table with 13 points from 14 games, while Everton, who have now won four in five league matches on the road, are 18th with 7 points, two points from safety.

“It’s as blatant a foul as you’d wish to see,” Jamie Redknapp said via Sky Sports, when talking about Doucoure’s shirt-pull on Yates. “It’s so important [the officials and VAR] get this right.”

Cooper was left frustrated by the incident: “The penalty that was given against us last week, if that’s a penalty then the one today is. That’s a frustration. It’s a big error and it was last week as well. It’s why referees are getting a load of stick.

“We try to help them as much as we can but they’ve got to help themselves as well.”

Cooper added, as per Nottingham Post: “We’ve conceded a typical Everton goal in how they create chances – balls into the box, kept alive, put back into the box and aiming for certain players. We did a lot of work on it all week but succumbed to it that particular time.

“That was disappointing. The lad has taken it well.

“We weren’t productive enough in the final third. For all the times we got there we haven’t shown enough creativity, enough guile or enough quality to really create more chances than we did. When we did create chances, we haven’t even hit the target.

“If you look at their goal, it’s very clinical. If you look at us in those moments, Jordan Pickford hasn’t even had to make a save.

“The game didn’t have a load of chances. Murillo cleared one off the line, but that was our doing. The one real chance they’ve had, he’s taken it really well. The ones we’ve had, we’ve not shown enough of the quality you need at this level to score goals.”

“I think that the penalty that was given against us last week, if that’s a penalty, then I think the one today is”

Steve Cooper says Nottingham Forest should have been awarded a penalty 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/igNeGosHb8

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 2, 2023

He goes on: “The other real talking point is the difference in decision-making over penalties, with (Abdoulaye) Doucoure on Yates compared to the one which was given against us last week. I won’t hide behind the decision with the result – just like I didn’t last week – but if last week was a penalty, then it has to be one today. We’ve had two very experienced referees in the last two games and they couldn’t be any further away from being consistent in those moments.

“We’re not talking about decisions in the middle of the pitch, we’re talking about penalty decisions which can really cost or win games.

“It wasn’t the only factor in why we didn’t score a goal. We have to own the other reasons I’ve just talked about as well.

“There will have been lots of emotions from supporters walking out of the stadium. Whatever that emotion is, it will only have come from support and love for the club. We all show it in different ways – like the players and the staff, including myself, will. That’s because the club is supported as well as it is.

“I have no problem with any emotion that supporters show because it will only come from the heart, of supporting and wanting the best for the football club. I’ve absolutely no problem with anything.

“We’ve lost three on the bounce, two of them at home. There’s no hiding away from that. We need to own it, talk about it, don’t deflect.

“We need to work even harder to try to put it right. As disappointed as we are, that’s all we can do.”

“We’ve had two very experienced referees in the last two games, and they couldn’t be any further away from being consistent” ❌

Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper on the standard of officiating in the Premier League after their 1-0 defeat to Everton 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/8Yf40ZsJUw

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 3, 2023

Everton boss Sean Dyche on the result: “Very pleased. With what’s happened over the last few weeks, it’s a restart for us.

“Three away wins on the trot, which is very difficult in the Premier League. The mentality is right and the performance levels are right.

“It’s a big step to get that performance after the recent news. We can all talk about the hardship but you’ve got to keep going.

“It was a good performance against Manchester United but it was a head-scratcher, and we’ve had a few of them this season. We’ve just got to take on the next challenge.

“The one-game-at-a-time mentality is how I’ve always approached football.”

Twitter users reacted as Steve Cooper criticises the standard of Premier League officials after Nott’m Forest lose to Everton…

@tmkbanks: I love Steve but honestly fuck off – we were diabolical for 94 mine. This was not a game where the officials generated any controversy

@trickyterra2: We were utter dross today but that is a clear and obvious error how does the referee who is staring right at it not give it let alone VAR? #nffc

@RTranterDesign: Steve Cooper not moaning about referees challenge: Impossible

@Chris78901: He’s right, but it also would’ve papered over the cracks. Take no pleasure in saying it, but I’d be amazed if he’s in the dugout for Fulham #nffc

@StevenF17066810: How did Forest not get a penalty. Managers/players are coming out and saying they are shit and rather than fixing it they get punished for stating facts

@Harvey_XCX: All he does is moan about referees every week

@ethan_hunt04: 😂😂😂😂😂 shame. Got played off the park all game, lazy eyed tit see ye later

@JorgenBlgz: I wish constant errors on all teams/managers that must have stood with Arteta but instead chose to look away/even call him out when he checked the PGMOL

@EthanMoyles1878: Complete waffle, you were terrible and deserved nothing.

@NorthBankerAFC: Not to sound like a broken record, but where is the outrage from Sky Sports? Will there be an independent hearing for Cooper? @GNev2 @Carra23 is this not damaging?

@Liam_M_Holmes: The only reason they got promoted was due to an “experienced referee” not giving Huddlesfield a penalty 🤣 the fans were loving it then… Swings & Roundabouts

@Jcov1998: Our own performance was a lot worse than the officials. We deserved nothing and got nothing. Starting to hear this every week when we lose #NFFC

@warrenallsworth: We were dreadful and deservedly lost. But Steve is 100% correct here. If the penalties given in the Brighton game last week (both) were adjudged penalties that is stonewall. #NFFC

@darren_tv: Agreed it’s inconsistent and VAR is opinion based so badge checking is also part of any decision making. But it doesn’t detract from the fact that we lost to a mediocre EFC that made us look like a league 1 side at times. 1 win in 10 SC. That run is not all down to officials 🤔

@teadrinker68: Steve Cooper saying he won’t hide behind the ‘penalty’ whilst continually moaning about the ‘penalty’.