Straight out of a movie: How a 30-year-old's goal can save Luton and bring Nottingham Forest to Championship?
In such an unpredictable Premier League, with point deductions, constant shuffling of teams, pressure, stress and "extreme" results, everything is open. Like a… relegation, thanks to a goal in 90' by a player who had never scored in the top flight of English football!
By DIMITRIS MANAKOS
It was a foregone conclusion that at some point in April the punishment at Nottingham Forest would be known, with the possibilities being two and data. Either the Reds would have to pay a big fine for breaking the rules, or they would see points deducted.
In the end, the second scenario prevailed, with Nottingham Forest being informed that four points had been removed from their 'bag'. They had amassed 25, return to 21, are below Luton by one point and in 18th place in the table.
What does this mean? That although they have Burnley on 17 points and Sheffield United on 14 below them, but 10 matchdays before the end, the stress shifts to their side.
And if you think carefully about what we have seen this year, you can realize that in the season finale, it is possible for even one goal to determine an entire season. Like what Luke Berry put on Nottingham last weekend to equalize for Luton 1-1 in the 90th minute.
He is a 31-year-old footballer, who has been with Luton since 2017, having previously played in England's lower divisions. He has been through Cambridge, Barnsley, been to Luton and stayed there. He scored in stoppage time against Nuno Espirito's team, scoring his first Premier League career goal in his 9th appearance.
So, if Nottingham were relegated at the end of the season for just one point, he would be held "responsible". Because without this goal, even with the punishment that appeared, Luton would be below Nottingham and they on 23 points! Straight out of science fiction? Perhaps. Unrealistic? We will see soon…
