Head coach Steve Cooper says Nottingham Forest were prepared for the possibility of tempers flaring against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The two teams clashed after their Carabao Cup tie earlier this season. And as they drew 1-1 at the City Ground in the Premier League, there was a flashpoint again.
Assistant managers Alan Tate and Pablo Sanz, for Wolves, were sent off when the two coaching teams squared up in the second half. The visitors felt they should have had a penalty, arguing Adama Traore was fouled by Felipe.
READ MORE: How the Reds rated against Wolves
READ MORE: How the action unfolded at the City Ground
“I can’t deny nothing happened. But I didn’t see exactly how it started because I was facing away,” Cooper said.
“I don’t say this disrespectfully, but we know there has been a lot of ill-discipline on the Wolves touchline since the change of manager. I haven’t got a problem with it, until you come up against them.
“We were prepared for it. The last thing we wanted was for anything to boil over and there to be any problems.
“But at the same time, at our stadium, we cannot let opposing staff dominate officials and try to influence the game. We have to stand up for it. That’s all it was.
“I don’t want to see any cards for any staff - us or them. I have zero complaints with our staff. At the same time, we know it was something that could possibly happen today, so we were ready for it.
“Whether he (Tate) did or didn't deserve a red card, he’s got one so we’ll deal with it. I haven’t seen it back. What I do know is, you prepare for a game on the pitch, and sometimes you have to prepare for it off the pitch as well. Certainly in your own stadium, when you’ve got a togetherness like we have, supporters need to see not just the players giving everything, but the staff as well, because we are. That’s all that was.”
In a game with plenty riding on it, the hosts had looked on course for victory. Brennan Johnson’s 10th goal of the season in all competitions had given them the lead at the City Ground.
The Reds had their chances to kill the game off in the second half, but they failed to take them. And they paid the price when Daniel Podence equalised with less than 10 minutes to go.
The draw extended Forest’s winless run to seven games. They remain two points above the drop zone with 10 matches remaining.
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