Man United loss has not changed my view on Everton points deduction impact

Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper believes Everton will be a tougher side to face as a result of their recent 10-point deduction.

Everton, who take on Forest at the City Ground on Saturday evening, formally submitted an appeal over the decision to dock the club ten points for a breach of the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules on Friday.

The Blues, who were beaten by Manchester United last weekend, dropped from 14th to second-bottom as a result of the deduction. Sean Dyche’s side currently find themselves five points from safety.

But Cooper, who has come under scrutiny from the Forest ownership after one win from nine league games, believes the game, which would have already been a tough one for his side, will become even tougher as a result of the points deduction the Blues recently received.

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He said: "I think Everton have been playing well and are in good form; they played well at home last week.

"I was asked last week after their points deduction was announced about what it could mean, and I said straight away that it makes the game even tougher.

"They have a lot of good players with Premier League experience, but we're really focusing on ourselves.

"We obviously respect every team we come up against and the threats they have, but it's about how we deal with that and how we impose ourselves on the game."

Forest were beaten by Brighton & Hove Albion last time out, and Cooper added: "You never want to be losing games, that's for sure, although that can happen in this league because of the intensity and level of opponent you come up against.

"You