Nottingham Forest start to the season sees the team in 19th place after nine matches and a number of structural issues evident all over the pitch. None, however, should be under more scrutiny than the man between the posts.

Matz Sels is a Belgian international and has earned praise for his efforts in recent seasons, but right now he finds himself near the bottom of the entire Premier League when it comes to discussing goalkeeping statistics.

The numbers behind the goalkeeper drop-off at Forest

With a save percentage of 58.6%, Sels is now considered statistically one of the worst goalkeepers in the Premier League when it comes to comparing him with the 20 other stoppers he’s up against.

Forest stopper Sels has other imperfections that fans are growing tired of too. He rarely comes to collect crosses off of his line, and his distribution is largely aimless balls pumped down the centre of the pitch.

It’s the fact that Forest aren’t giving up loads of chances yet are still conceding goals, that is the most alarming thing about Sels’ current form when it comes to saving shots.

Defensive exposure vs individual form: Where is the blame?

Forest have occasionally conceded higher-quality opportunities to top opponents; Sels has struggled to make key saves during moments of low margin.

Averaging under two saves per 90 minutes, the Belgian shot-stopper is turning fewer routine attempts away, placing immense pressure on Forest to score at the other end – which just isn’t happening!

What must change for Nottingham Forest?

To reverse this downward trend, Forest must address both penalty boxes. Wasteful finishing is costing the Reds at one end of the pitch, whilst Sels has to improve at the other.

A solid goalkeeper is worth an extra 10-15 points a season, and ultimately Forest will have to go shopping for a new custodian during the January transfer window.

Sels must elevate his numbers back up in the short term if Forest are serious about salvaging this season and start winning football matches.

If he can get up to around 70% save success ratio, the Reds can climb the table, but keeping shots out and scoring goals has been the vice of the team all season.

Oliver Glasner has work to do. However, these Sels stats suggest that not everything that Forest have struggled with is completely down to the Reds’ head coach.