Nuno Espirito Santo cut a frustrated figure as his Nottingham Forest side missed a great chance to return to the top five and the places for automatically qualifying for the UEFA Champions League after a 2-2 draw with Leicester City.
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Forest had come from behind to lead 2-1 at the City Ground against their relegated East Midlands rivals but conceded a late goal to Facundo Buonanotte to drop two points and keep them seventh in the table.
That point will guarantee a return to European football for Forest, as they cannot be caught in seventh, after a 29-year absence.
But having spent most of the season in the top three Forest's hopes of an unlikely spot in the UEFA Champions League next season are out of their hands, with matches against West Ham United and Chelsea to remain.
“Today is a tough day for everybody connected to the club,” Nuno said. “First half we conceded a goal but we were dominant. Second half we started better and deserved to get the advantage. Then it was a defensive mistake that allowed Leicester to get back in the game."
Asked whether pressure was getting to his players, Nuno replied: “I honestly don’t know the reason. You can say because of anxiety or nerves but the players don't transmit that.
"[Champions League qualification] was in our hands, it’s no longer in our hands. But we out not playing well, we are not defending well and that is never good.
“I wish I could tell you why but our main focus as coaching staff is to find solutions. When we don’t it's so frustrating.”
