Stuart Gray’s Sheffield Wednesday are this weekend’s visitors to the City Ground, looking to avenge the defeat that Forest inflicted way back in August.
Owls boss, Stuart Gray:
‘I have a lot of affection for Nottingham Forest as they were my first club in football. I enjoyed my time there. Forest were the champions at the time and I couldn`t have asked for a better start in football. It`s always nice to go back but the only thing I want out of the day is three points.”
Red’s Manager, Stuart Pearce:
‘They`re a very well-organised team with a good manager in Stuart Gray. He`s handled the pressures under a tight budget and done a really good job. Defensively they`re very tight and it`ll be a tough game for us, as it was at Hillsborough.”
Andy Reid is edging closer to a return, but Chris Cohen remains sidelined for the season.
Henri Lansbury completes his 2 match suspension, whilst both Matty Fryatt and Michael Mancienne will miss out due to injury.
Loan signing, Todd Kane is expected to feature is Forest’s squad.
The unwritten rule in football only tends to work against Forest, where a former player, returns to haunt their former employers.
The former Wednesday winger, signed for Forest this summer and has scored 10 times this season whilst also contributing 7 assists.
He may have been kept quiet in recent weeks, but let’s hope he leads a Reds revival.
Kasmil Zayatte is away on international duty, whilst Kieren Westwood and Joe Mattock face fitness tests, but both should play.
The Owls loaned a player this week from Chelsea too, so Lewis Baker is expected to feature in the matchday squad.
Atdhe Nuhiu and Stevie May have 12 goals between them this season, whilst Nuhiu also tops their assists chart – so, Forest’s fragile defence must be on their game.
Forest may have the upper hand against Wednesday in recent times, but that means nothing. The reds have lost their last 3 games, they are without a win in the last 7 games and have managed just 2 wins from the last 19 – it pains me to say, this is relegation form after such a promising start to the season.
The Owls have won 4 of their last 6 Championship games and sit just 1 place and 3 points ahead of Forest in 10th.
They have lost just 2 games away from home this season, but both teams have drawn 10 of the 24 games played.
The experienced Andy D’Urso takes charge of this one, his 20th game this season. The previous 19 have yielded 53 yellows and 4 red cards.
He will be assisted by Mark Dwyer and Alf Greenwood, with Darren Deadman as 4th official.
Forest can’t buy a win and it’s difficult to see them having the ability to grind out a result against a resilient Owls side.
The head says 1-1, the heart hopes for another edgy 1-0 win for the Reds.
Forest make the short trip along the A52 to take on East Midlands Rivals, Derby County on Saturday, 17th January 2015.
The game kicks off at 12-15 and will be shown on Sky.