Nottingham Forest manager Sabri Lamouchi says his side will be playing to win as they look to secure a place in this season’s Championship play-off places against Stoke on Wednesday night.
Results over the weekend mean that Forest go into this final game of the regular season knowing that a draw with the Potters would be enough to guarantee them a top-six spot this season, and with it, a shot at promotion.
It seems however, as though Lamouchi will not be taking any chances on Wednesday, and will instead look to go all out for the three points against a Stoke side who have nothing left to play for after ensuring their survival in the division for another season.
Speaking to Nottinghamshire Live about how his side will approach the game, Lamouchi said: “The approach is simple. We know the situation and the options. If you win, it’s done.
“If you don’t win, it can be done as well. But we need to play for the win.”
Is Lamouchi right to go for the win against Stoke?YesNo
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Indeed, it appears that aside from the impact on the game itself, Lamouchi believes that beating Stoke on Wednesday could be important for Forest going further forward, as he added: “With the potential for what we can achieve, it is important not only for the fans, not only for the club, not only for me, but for the players as well.”
What Lamouchi is saying here certainly seems to make sense, and you wonder whether it suggests he regrets starting with a five-man defence at Barnsley on Sunday.
If Forest sit back here and play for the draw, then it leaves them at risk of being sucker-punched late on by Stoke, something which could then leave them in a very awkward position with regards to the table overall.
Going for the win gives them the opportunity to control the game and ensure Stoke are the ones under pressure, while victory should also help Forest pick up some much-needed momentum ahead of the play-offs, having only won four of their last 16 games.
