The search for a win continues for Forest this weekend as they entertain newly promoted Norwich City who have made a flying start to the Championship campaign.
Vital Quotes:
Click here to join in the match debate
Click here to make your match prediction in JK’s prediction league
Nottingham Forest Team News:
Paul McKenna should be fit to return after pulling out of the previous game against Reading in the warm up with a tight hamstring. Chris Gunter misses his second of a three match suspension & David McGoldrick will be missing for the next 3 months with a dislocated shoulder.
Player to watch: Rob Earnshaw
After getting his first of the season last time out and being unlucky not to net before that, he will be looking to hit a scoring run that has become the Earnshaw trademark against one of his former clubs.
Norwich City Team News:
Zak Whitbread and Steven Smith are the only injury concerns for Norwich with both likely to miss out again.
Player to watch: Grant Holt
Has to be, his time on Trent side was turbulent to say the least but his goal threat is there for all to see, he’s probably worth a quid as the first goal scorer here, hope the lad gets a decent reception.
Match Facts & Stats
In the 60 previous league meeting between these two teams Forest do have the advantage with 24 wins compared to 21 for Norwich (a further 15 games drawn) & as such, Forest hold a slender advantage in goal scored too with 90 to 77 for the Canaries.
The last time the two sides met was a 5 goal thriller that saw Forest run out 3 – 2 winners at Carrow Road despite scoring all 5 goals (Breckin & Garner were both on the score sheet for Norwich). The last meeting at the City Ground though saw Norwich run out 2 – 1 winners, thanks to another own goal with this time Chris Cohen putting through his own net for the Canaries winner.
Forest have not lost a league game at the City Ground since way back in September 2009 while Norwich have only lost once on a Saturday since February of this year, they have lost several games within that time, but oddly all barr one of their defeats have come in midweek games.
Ref Watch:
Scott Mathieson of Cheshire will take charge of this game, the last time he took charge of a Forest fixture was the 4 – 1 home win over Doncaster Rovers back in November last year. He’s taken charge of 3 games so far this season issuing 6 yellow cards & no red
He will be assisted by Geoff Law of Leicestershire & Stephen Martin of Staffordshire
Forth Official Kevin Hayward of Staffordshire
Match Prediction:
Norwich have started the season well & Forest are still looking for their first win. The Grant Holt factor is a worry, but I’m going for Forest’s home form to continue & a 3 – 0 home win
Next Fixtures:
Forest v Millwall
11/09/2010
