Nottingham Forest secured a 2‑0 victory at Brentford, but manager Sean Dyche left the press conference fuming over the use of towels on the touchline. He argued that drying the ball before a throw‑in adds unnecessary delay, especially when opponents like Brentford’s Michael Kayode routinely reach for a towel.

Dyche reminded officials that Premier League rules permit towels only if both sides have equal access, yet he feels the home team effectively decides their availability. In the EFL, towels were banned last season, a precedent Dyche urges the Premier League to follow to curb the rising average throw‑in time, now 17.8 seconds.

The debate arrives as the International Football Association Board prepares a countdown clock for throw‑ins and goal‑kicks, aiming to trim wasted minutes. Brentford boss Keith Andrews dismissed Forest’s tactics as gamesmanship, noting that prolonged set‑pieces disrupt momentum. With relegation battles tightening, how the league handles towel rules could influence future fixtures.