adminMichael Owen has singled out Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White after a disappointing display in their Premier League defeat to Leeds United.
Forest began the 2026/27 campaign with a frustrating 1-0 home loss, with Anton Stach scoring an 88th-minute winner to give Leeds all three points at the City Ground.
The result was particularly disappointing for Forest after they had been expected to make a strong start under new manager Oliver Glasner. Instead, they struggled to create clear-cut opportunities and were eventually punished late in the game.
Gibbs-White, who has established himself as one of Forest’s most important attacking players, was unable to make the expected impact.
Owen questions Gibbs-White display
The England international was expected to be at the heart of Forest’s attacking play, but he found it difficult to influence proceedings as Leeds defended resolutely.
Owen’s criticism comes after the midfielder was described as virtually anonymous by Forest supporters following the defeat. Fan reaction to the performance highlighted concerns over Forest’s lack of creativity and the failure of several key players to impose themselves on the contest.
For a player who has regularly been Forest’s creative spark, Gibbs-White’s quiet performance will be a major concern.
The former England striker believes Forest need more from their biggest players if they are going to avoid another difficult campaign in the Premier League.
Forest suffer late heartbreak
Forest appeared set to take at least a point from the match before Leeds struck in the closing stages.
Stach found the breakthrough in the 88th minute, leaving Forest with almost no time to respond.
The defeat underlined some of the problems Glasner still has to address. Forest had periods of possession but struggled to turn that into sustained attacking pressure.
Their supporters were particularly frustrated by the lack of urgency and creativity in the final third.
Gibbs-White must respond
Despite the criticism, Gibbs-White remains one of the most talented players in the Forest squad and is expected to play a major role in Glasner’s plans.
The 26-year-old has previously been one of the club’s standout performers, and Forest will need him to rediscover that influence quickly.
With the season only beginning, there is plenty of time for Gibbs-White to respond. However, Owen’s criticism highlights the pressure on Forest’s leading players to deliver when expectations are high.
Forest now have the opportunity to put the disappointment behind them when they face Leeds again in the EFL Cup. The rematch gives Gibbs-White and his teammates an immediate chance to produce a much-improved performance.
For Glasner, the priority will be ensuring that Forest learn from the opening-day defeat and become more dangerous in attack.
The warning from Owen is clear: if Forest’s key players fail to perform consistently, the club could face another difficult Premier League campaign.
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