Nuno Espirito Santo urges referees to be more understanding during 'very emotional' games as James Ward-Prowse sees red in 'crazy' Chelsea clash with Forest boss also booked

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Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has urged referees to understand how emotions can get the better of players after an incident-packed draw with Chelsea.

Espirito Santo’s side battled hard to cling on to their point after seeing James Ward-Prowse dismissed after he received a second yellow card in the second half.

Chris Wood had put Forest ahead before Noni Madueke responded for the hosts.

Ward-Prowse was one of nine players to be booked by referee Chris Kavanagh during the game, while Espirito Santo was also shown a yellow during the second half.

‘It was a crazy game, wasn’t it? Goalkeepers making huge saves, we had one man less, mass confusion, red cards, yellow cards, everything was there,’ said Espirito Santo.

Nuno Espirito Santo has urged referees to understand how emotions can get the better of players

James Ward-Prowse was sent off for a second bookable offence late in the second-half 

Referee Chris Kavanagh booked nine players in an incident-packed match at Stamford Bridge

‘I cannot judge the yellow cards. For example, the yellow card for James Ward-Prowse, there is no way. He did it for the team. He was one-vs-one, so he did it for the team.

‘What I’m trying to say at the same time is, please referees understand that we are there on the touchline and on the pitch, it is very emotional. 

‘There are so many things happening, so many thoughts and so many circumstances. It is very hard to keep our emotions together.’

On his own yellow card, the Nottingham Forest boss added: ‘I must apologise for my behaviour, but I didn’t do anything that another manager wouldn’t do.’