So we beat Brentford, beat Southampton and won in Europe again to make it three wins on the trot. Can we make it four?
Just as it frankly amazes me that we’re sixth in the league, given our recent form, it amazes me even more that Forest are actually a place higher. I’m sure that says something about the Premier league this season, but I’m not sure what. It’s probably that most teams have been pretty rubbish.
I really ought to be confident about this game, but I’m not quite there yet. I know results show that we look like we’ve turned the corner and got through a rough patch, yet I have a feeling that the Champion’s league is taking more and more out of the squad. We so badly need to automatically qualify and by-pass that next stage so the lads have a couple of months away from Europe, but then of course, we might be fighting on the FA cup front.
Squad news and Ollie Watkins will have a late assessment. I’m not sure it matters much, because I think Unai will start Jhon Duran, who surely deserves a start? It would however be nice to see Ollie on the bench if we require an option. Jacob Ramsey and Leon Bailey’s fitness hasn’t been updated, so the assumption is nothing has changed and they won’t feature.
Forest don’t have many problems, but Alex Moreno isn’t eligible, which is probably a bit of a loss for them, as he’s apparently been very good, while Ibrahim Sangare and Danilo are both long term injured.
Forest have a very similar record to us this season. They’re on the same points, but have a better goal difference. Not much, but they concede less and score more at the same time. Given that we’ve conceded 23 in 15 games, it’s really not hard to see where our problem lies. It’s in the defence and we need a right back so Konsa can return to by far his best position. But we’ve been saying that for ages and I have a feeling it won’t be addressed in the upcoming window either. Given our position in the CL and even the Prem, considering we’ve been so poor, it’s hard to criticise Emery though, I suppose.
I certainly didn’t expect us to be doing so well in Europe.
All this begs the question of if we don’t buy a right back, what position will be strengthened? Not long until we find out, but you’d expect we’ll get at least one player in.
This seems to me to be a game all about strikers. Duran is going to start, it’s just been confirmed, as is Mings, who will surely be wanted in trying to keep a lid on Chris Wood, who’s on a roll.
This game looks drawish to me and I’m going for a 1-1, which I’d be okay with.
UTV!
Fingers crossed.
I hope Mings plays well. We need him too, I reckon.
Martinez, Konsa, Carlos, Mings, Digne, Cash, Kamara, Tielemans, McGinn, Rogers, Duran.
Ollie is on the bench.
Mings out with illness so Torres starts. We need to keep a clean sheet because it’s our goals conceded in the premier league which is very poor.
That’s a blow 🙂
Oops, 🙁
Unia just been on and nothing said that Mings not in lads ?
Nervous time from me as well Badger, Forest playing well this season and we are the enemy in the Midlands to them . Yes I’ll settle for a draw even then that’ll feel like a lose to me .
I like the change Unai made in midweek, with Cash moving up into midfield, allowing 5 at the back when defending and springs forward.
Pity about Mings being taken ill – guess we will have to score 3 today to win!
Go Durán!
We’re losing all the 50-50’s and Rogers hasn’t completed a successful pass yet. They all need to buck up their levels.
I was thinking the same about Roger’s and then he starts to play really well and should have had a penalty
Rogers improved right on cue after I posted he was having a stinker. Duran unfortunately offered nothing and highlights the work Watkins puts in. C’mon Jhon! Prove me wrong.
Perhaps Unai can get his players to chant “You’re supposed to be at HOME!” to rile Forest, because Villa are clueless trying to break down teams who sit back like that in the first half. Watkins apart, I doubt our bench players would improve it, though a match fit Buendia would.
Yes, yes yes. Duran and the assist goes to emi
Bloody hell!!!!
Emi is also on fire today!!!
Well I would agree with these decisions, wouldn’t I. But we really are going to have to learn the rules of the game again.
Onana and Ollie on as subs. Stunning stuff! Hopefully Ollie can pull their defence out of position and Onana can use his muscle in the middle of the park.
Always scary with just a one goal lead…
How did that take so long……stupid
I told you that 10 minutes ago. What took so long? 🤦
VAR saved us but we didn’t learn from it. Another simple cross begging to be headed in and they obliged 😡
Gone to sleep, Holte. Inexplicable. And unforgivable. Especially after the VAR reprieve.
I predicted they’d score more than one…
Wakey wakey…
Marty Cash you idiot, you’ve lost us the game because 3 times in succession you f****d up.