BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
MARK WARBURTON has been told his commitment to passing football could get Nottingham Forest relegated.
The former Rangers boss has seen Forest slump to consecutive 1-0 defeats against Blackburn Rovers and Cardiff City, despite registering more than 60 per cent possession in both encounters.
Forest are now just one point above the drop-zone with three Championship fixtures left to play, with the two-time European Cup winners in serious dangers of slipping into League One.
And club legend Garry Birtles has urged Warburton – often chastised for a lack of alternative tactics during his time at Ibrox – to dump his philosophies in favour of getting points on the board.
In his column for the Nottingham Post, he said: “I understand the manager, Mark Warburton, wants to get his team playing a certain way, but Forest can still get relegated. They are in a very dangerous position.
“Now is not the time for Forest to be trying to play attractive football. All they have got to do is win games, whatever that takes. Not trying to play great, passing football. That can come later on, once Forest are safe, once they know they are going to be in the Championship again next year.
“For now, they just have to try to get three points any way possible. Whatever it takes. When you’re at the bottom of the table; you’ve simply got to win football matches.
“It doesn’t matter if they play badly and win 1-0, as long as they get that win. Do everything possible to win. That’s the only way to go about it. You’ve got to make sure you do the basics right. Don’t try to be too clever and end up getting caught out. Put balls into the box and hope someone gets on the end of them.”
