Cooper says Forest players 'smoke' on VAR call against Brentford as he awaits 'real facts'

Steve Cooper had to count the cost of a controversial VAR decision after relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest slipped to a 2-1 Premier League defeat at Brentford.

Ivan Toney appeared to be in an offside position when Josh Dasilva scored Brentford's winning goal in stoppage time.

But after a lengthy check by VAR Neil Swarbrick, the striker was deemed onside and the goal was awarded, dealing a blow to Forest's survival hopes.

"I really hope the decision was based on real facts and not judgement," Forest boss Cooper said.

"If it's for, we have to accept it. But we have to wait and see the image from which they made the call. I really hope that at this point in the season, they did not make a call based on guesswork.

"Guys are fuming about it. I'm still waiting for that sharp image. That's a massive call at this time of the season."

Forest had led by birthday boy Danilo, who turned 22 with a goal in first-half stoppage time.

But Toney equalized with a free-kick eight minutes from time, taking his Premier League tally for the season to 20.

And with Forest down to 10 men after Danilo's injury, substitute Dasilva fired the ball home to send Forest to a seventh successive defeat.

"It was just about accepting that Brentford were going to have the ball and handle that and overall we did that," Cooper added.

"We defended well from set plays. I couldn't see us conceding and was hoping we could make better decisions when we had break opportunities.

"Conceding the goals we conceded is hard to accept, for all of us. More than anything now, we have to stick together."

The victory left Brentford in ninth place after reaching the 50-deck mark.

"I like that more than the 40 points everyone is talking about," said boss Thomas Frank.

"We weren't at our best. I think Nottingham Forest made it difficult for us and defended well. We played too slowly. We didn't play the assist.

"But coming back was very, very good. It must be so hard to be in their dressing room after a great performance."

The Bees have only lost twice at home this season, against Arsenal and Newcastle.

“Our fans help us a lot,” added Frank. "Every team needs good home form if they want to achieve anything and we have created something quite unique."

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