THE OPPOSITION
The end to the 2019/20 season was just about as traumatic as it could get for Nottingham Forest fans, The Reds dropping out of the Play-Off places in injury-time on the final day of the campaign. Sabri Lamouchi's side had been in the top six since New Year's Day but their 4-1 defeat to Stoke City coupled with Swansea City's win at Reading saw them drop to seventh in the dying seconds of the season.
Fast forward five months from that night in late July and Lamouchi is gone and Forest sit 21st, just a point above the drop zone after a nightmare start to the campaign.
They've won just three games in all competitions this campaign and are without a win in their last six, losing five of them, under Chris Hughton.
Far from the most prolific side last term, Forest have scored just 14 goals in 17 Championship games. Summer signing Lyle Taylor is their top scorer with four goals while Lewis Grabban is yet to get off the mark during an injury-hit campaign.
In the engine room, Ben Watson left in the summer while Samba Sow has been restricted to just seven outings due to injury. Forest's three wins have all come with Sow in the XI, the Malian international has been fit enough to start their last two matches.
TEAM NEWS
It's as you were from Wednesday night with Christian Norgaard (ankle), Mads Roerslev (foot), and Shandon Baptiste (knee) set to miss out.
Forest have had major problems of their own in recent weeks. Scott McKenna (ankle) is a doubt while Lewis Grabban (hip), Jack Colback (ankle), and Luke Freeman (groin) are definitely out. Michael Dawson (calf) is yet to feature this season while Gaetan Bong (hamstring) has made just one appearance. Tyler Blackett and Fouad Bachirou are both back in training and Ryan Yates returned after a one-game suspension for Wednesday night.
THE MANAGER
Chris Hughton is just over two months into his time at Nottingham Forest following a five-year spell in charge of Brighton and Hove Albion. After taking over in 2014, Hughton led the club to promotion to the Premier League for the first time in its history in 2017 and successfully avoided relegation for two successive seasons before being dismissed in May 2019 due to a poor run of form. Prior to that he got Newcastle United promoted back to the Premier League, reached the Championship Play-offs with Birmingham City and saved Norwich City from Premier League relegation.
The former left-back spent over a decade playing for Tottenham Hotspur before moving to West Ham United and finally Brentford in 1992. Hughton won two FA Cups, a UEFA Cup, and the Charity Shield with Spurs and was a part of our 91/92 Third Division winning side. He earned 53 caps with the Republic of Ireland, for whom he acted as assistant manager between 2003 and 2005.
PRE-MATCH VIEWS
⚖ Geoff Eltringham will be the man in charge tomorrow afternoon
🆚 Sarah Clapson of the Nottingham Post previews The Reds
MEMORABLE MEETING
HOW TO FOLLOW
Watch us on the road this Saturday. Match passes to watch our game at The City Ground live on iFollow are available now for £10 (£7 international fans).
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