Nottingham Forest

With only four points separating third and 13th, we do not normally see that many teams in this type of mini league.

Normally, you might have the teams in a pack around the top four or five and then another pack underneath that with your relegation pack as well, so the fact there is so many teams in it at this stage is making it different.

From the mental side of competing in that, you look at Manchester United who have struggled so much this season and are sitting 13th. If they get a win, it can shoot them right up the table. They are in a position to think they are only a few points off the Champions League places' and that is good.

But it can work both ways.

Knowing the points are so close can keep you strong, keep you competing and have that competitiveness because you know a result can jump you up. But on the flipside, you could easily go from seventh down to 13th in one weekend or from third down to 10th.

How you deal with it depends on the manager, the players and also the psychologists within the group. Psychology in sport is really important for whether you see the situation as a positive or a negative.

Whether it stays like this all season is hard to say as there have been some really inconsistent performances and results. The most consistent team is the one sitting at the top.

I do not know what the rest of the campaign has in store for these sides because all the teams seem to be able to take points off each other this season.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Barcelona and Real Madrid are keeping an eye on Nottingham Forest's 22-year-old Brazilian centre-back Murillo. (Sport in Spanish), external

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Is there something that you want to ask about Nottingham Forest?

BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray will be taking part in a Q&A session later this week.

Submit your question here, external and come back to this page on Friday for a selection of replies

Pat Riddell
Fan writer

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Sometimes a reality check is required.

Nobody enjoys losing but it keeps everything in perspective. If Nottingham Forest had beaten Newcastle United on Sunday they would have been just a point behind Manchester City and firmly in third position.

Going into the international break, that would have been dreamland for Forest ers. After all, we are allowed to dream. But maybe a check on our ambitions keeps Nuno Espirito Santo's squad focused on the next run of games.

With the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Aston Villa coming up, the reality of this season will be laid bare by Christmas. Nothing is impossible, although you only have to look back a few months to see how far we have come.

Battling relegation for two seasons in a row, scraping by to get to the final games, seems a long time ago. But the same lessons apply - you can learn a lot from defeat, sometimes more than victory. The next two weeks are a chance for reflection on the past few months, as well as plans for the future.

The evident togetherness, unity and understanding in the squad has got us so far, and setbacks will always happen. Analysing how Eddie Howe's team picked us apart in the second half will prove a valuable learning.

The solidity in defence has served us well, as has our pressing and counter-attacking.

However, while we will have our off days, there is no doubt Nuno is looking to further evolve our tactics so that we can be on a more equal footing in games against the elite clubs we aim to emulate.

As it stands, Forest remain third - albeit t-third alongside Chelsea, Arsenal and Brighton. Nobody - absolutely nobody - predicted that after 11 games. So perhaps the reality check is as much for everybody else as it is for Forest.

Underestimate us at your own peril.

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BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions.

Gav asked: Has Nottingham Forest's bubble burst? They were totally outclassed in every department by Newcastle on Sunday.

Phil answered: No. One defeat to a good side playing well, even at home, does not mean a bubble has burst.

Nottingham Forest have had the sort of start to the season that has probably wildly exceeded even their own expectations.

There will be reality checks along the road but no way will I be jumping to the sort of knee-jerk conclusions suggesting a bubble has burst after one loss.

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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Newcastle.

Here are some of your comments:

Forest fans

John: Tough to take but a fair result. All the things that came off last week didn't today. No lack of effort or commitment - things just didn't go for us against a strong team with a good manager who'd worked us out. Like Nuno said, we go again next time.

Andy: Poor in the final third against a physical Newcastle. That was the difference. Neither team had lots of chances - Newcastle just took theirs.

Ken: Thought we looked leggy from the off. Beaten by the better side, but borne from our inability to create anything at all and their ability to create and take chances. Eddie Howe worked his magic at half-time and we had no answer to it. Never mind, it has shown us what is required to stay in that top six and we have a break now to recharge.

Newcastle fans

Kevin: Even at 1-0 down we were still the better side. Composed on the ball and on the front foot. It’s taken a while but Eddie has now found the winning combination and balance in the midfield area. Harvey Barnes, super sub!

Bluey: Not the best first half from us but dug in. Ryan Yates for them should have been off. I counted at least three yellows, maybe four for his play. The high line worries me as we are always open to getting caught on the break. Big Dan Burn just hasn't got the pace to defend counter attacks. Joelinton is some boy - what a transformed player he is.

Sandra: Brilliant second-half display after a gritty first. Shame Anthony Gordon and Barnes can’t start together, however if Harvey keeps making supersub appearances and scoring goals well, why not. Brilliant game to watch.

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BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray believes there is "enough to be positive about" from Nottingham Forest's "phenomenal" start to the season to not be concerned with Sunday's home defeat by Newcastle.

"The worst thing they can do off the back of this is to start moping about the defeat and start to get down on themselves," he said.

"Forest are top five and that still represents a phenomenal start to the season. They have some very difficult games to come back to but it's about reflections and the bigger picture.

"I liked Nuno's phrase where he said: 'We had done to us what we have been doing to other teams.' And he's right.

"What Newcastle did to Forest is what Forest did to West Ham the week before. You have to give Newcastle credit - they've been the best side to come to the City Ground this season.

"Forest were off it a bit compared with where they have been. OK, move on. If they take the same set of results from the next dozen fixture I don't think anyone will be too concerned about this one.

"The next set of away fixtures is a bit daunting but that's for a couple of weeks' time.

"It's not ideal to go into an international break on a result and performance like this but there's enough to be positive about from the previous games Forest have played this season."

Watch highlights and analysis from Sunday's four Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Man Utd 3-0 Leicester

• Nottingham Forest 1-3 Newcastle

• Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Boss Nuno Espirito Santo insists Nottingham Forest must learn from their defeat to Newcastle.

Murillo's first-half opener was cancelled out by Alexander Isak, Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in the second half.

It was just a second defeat of the season for Forest and they remain in top five in the Premier League, although just a point above a chasing pack down to Aston Villa in ninth.

"When you lose and win there is always a lesson to be learnt. We must learn an important lesson, we have been punished the way we have been punishing other teams," said Nuno, who won October's Manager of the Month on Friday.

"I cannot say it is a bad performance, we have to give credit to Newcastle, they were a good team who were able to control us and were able to take advantage.

"They have quality and they were lethal in the chances they had.

"Even though we lost the game, everyone at Forest should be proud of the players and how we have been working together. Ok, let’s go again.

"I’m just proud from day one of the way we have been working as a team."

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Nuno Espirito Santo spoke to BBC Sport after Nottingham Forest's defeat against Newcastle: "I cannot say that was a bad performance, that is totally out of the question. We played against a very good team that was able to control us and then hurt us in the way we've been doing. It is a lesson for us to learn.

"I just have to recognise that today we played a good team, who were better than us in many, many moments. There's nothing to say about the players, the character and belief was there.

"I always say that we should enjoy and be proud of the way we are operating as a club. We want to grow in a very tough competition. We don't want to create an obligation of us. We are focusing on ourselves and improving as a team. We are going to regroup and go again and ignoring the same things: the table and the noise around us.

"We are very proud that our players go to international duty, it's recognition of their talents. We just hope they return healthy and there's time for them to recover from things they have been dragging."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

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What did you make of Newcastle's display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Four matches make up Sunday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

• Man Utd v Leicester (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

• Nottingham Forest v Newcastle (listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra)

• Tottenham v Ipswich (listen on BBC Sport website and app)

• Chelsea v Arsenal - 16:30 (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

Kick-off times 14:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 11 he takes on Mylee and Tate from CBBC football drama Jamie Johnson FC (JJFC), which is set in the world of an elite academy at fictional Premier League club Hawx United.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

In many respects this is a battle of two strikers. I loved Alexander Isak's header for Newcastle against Arsenal last week. It was a classic centre-forward's finish.

But this is the Chris Wood derby - aka the 'Wood Chopper' derby - and I am backing him to give Nottingham Forest the cutting edge they need against his former club.

Forest are a team with good balance in that they set out not to concede but they also have players who can threaten on the counter.

Their confidence must be sky-high and I see their good run continuing.

Mylee's prediction: Forest are doing really well but Newcastle are strong too. 2-2

Tate's prediction: Forest are flying and I am going to go for another Midlands win! 3-1

Read the rest of their predictions and have your own say here

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game at home to Newcastle United (14:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Nuno confirmed team news is "basically the same" as for last weekend's win over West Ham, with long-term absentees Danilo and Ibrahima Sangare remaining out.

• On winning Premier League manager of the month: "I'm very proud of the way we've been doing things. All of us - starting from the owner to the staff in the training ground. Everybody has been working very hard and it's very nice to be recognised. I think it's an effort from the club."

• He was "very pleased" Chris Wood won player of the month: "It reflects the hard work but it's more important you remain humble. He's much more than the goals - it's what he represents and what he means for us."

• More on Wood: "He puts everybody together - his presence in the dressing room, his voice, his experience. We are delighted."

• Is it harder to pick the team when everyone is performing well?: "When we have players available in good momentum, helping the team, it becomes easier because you have more options and solutions. We have immense trust in all the squad."

• On owner Evangelos Marinakis' plans for the club: "Good because I think, starting from the owner, the ambition to grow and improve the club makes us all aware of where we want to go."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to match commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra on Sunday

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Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been named as the Premier League's manager of the month for October.

Forest took seven points from their three games in the month, drawing at Chelsea before beating Crystal Palace and Leicester.

It is the fifth time the Portuguese boss has won the award, after three previous successes during his time at Wolves and one while he was in charge of Tottenham.

Earlier, Forest striker Chris Wood was named player of the month.

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Nottingham Forest forward Chris Wood has been named Premier League player of the month for October.

He becomes the first Reds player to win the award, and also the first from New Zealand to pick up the prize.

Wood scored four goals in the top flight last month, helping Forest stay unbeaten in their three Premier League matches.

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"You never know what could happen."

That's the view of former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Mark Crossley, who ed BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up and Show More Football podcast to discuss the Reds' excellent start to the season.

Crossley was part of the Forest squad that finished third in the top flight in 1994-95 and says "all the foundations are there" for the current team to emulate that success.

"We didn't think that we would finish third in the Premier League, no way," he said. But once you get into a bit of momentum, like the boys are doing now, and the manager has got a real grip of them, you never know what could happen.

"When you have the confidence, you've got a striker in form, a goalkeeper playing well, a back four that look organised and a midfield that look fantastic... all the foundations are there. Let's just keep hoping the team continue performing."

Next up for Nuno Espirito Santo's side is the visit of a resurgent Newcastle before the international break, followed by trips to title challengers Manchester City and Arsenal and a home game against Ipswich Town.

"If we can come out of the next four games with a decent amount of points then we are there," Crossley added.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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On the latest episode of BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up And Show More Football podcast, presenter David Jackson marvelled at Nottingham Forest's display against West Ham, as he and Colin Fray discussed why the Reds are flying high this season in the Premier League.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side completely dominated at the City Ground last weekend, running out comfortable 3-0 winners to climb to third place in the table.

Jackson said: "We've seen some very good performances, very solid defensive performances, breakaway goals and sneaking 1-0 victories... we have seen all those in the Premier League. But this felt entirely different.

"Forest were flying forward in numbers. Everyone knew their jobs. Even when they made a load of substitutions, they still looked in sync with each other.

"We haven't seen Forest do that to a Premier League team for a long time."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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This is the first time Nottingham Forest will play Newcastle in a top-flight match while above them in the table since March 1989, when they drew 1-1 at the City Ground.