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Vitor Pereira masterminded a 4-1 win over Burnley on Sunday with Nottingham Forest now five points clear of 18th-place Tottenham in the Premier League.
Morgan Gibbs-White scored a hat-trick on the day as Forest came from behind to claim a big psychological boost in the Premier League this weekend.
Who was your Man of the Match vs Burnley
Igor Jesus rounded off the victory after coming off the bench, and his introduction definitely helped Forest claim more of the ball and play better on the front foot.
It wasn’t all sweetness and light for Forest against Burnley, however, and Pereira now has a real dilemma over one player after his showing against the Clarets.
Photo by Maynard Manyowa/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesDilane Bakwa will struggle to start again this season
The injury suffered by Callum Hudson-Odoi on Thursday night allowed Bakwa the chance to start a Premier League game.
However, the signs of him being short of confidence were still evident, and his drab performance has given Pereira more questions than answers.
Bakwa had the confidence shaken out of him under Sean Dyche, and although he’s shown flashes of promise from the bench for Forest, he was hooked at half-time against Burnley.
WhoScored showed that Bakwa only touched the ball 21 times and also failed to complete a single dribble during his time on the pitch.
Bakwa lost possession eight times in the opening 45 minutes, and ultimately, his performance levels are way below the expectations from when he was signed for £30 million from Strasbourg.
Forest have decision to make on Bakwa this summer
The £30 million outlay will make it very tricky for Forest to make any profit on him should they decide to sell him in the summer.
Bakwa is only 23, and perhaps there is an argument that he could be loaned out next season instead, with one eye on him making an impact in the future.
What would you do with Dilane Bakwa next season?
Let us know in the comments below!
With Hudson-Odoi facing a spell on the sidelines, perhaps Bakwa will be needed again before the season ends, but this showing might have put a spanner in the works there.
Bakwa clearly has some talent but given that Forest kicked on when he wasn’t on the pitch, it would appear as though he will have to go back to earning his minutes from the bench once again.
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