Forest welcome managerless Gillingham to the City Ground on Saturday and look to continue where they left off last weekend with a win. The Reds picked up their first three points of the campaign at Port Vale with a scrappy performance. The loss on Tuesday in the Carling Cup, although a defeat should fill the lads with confidence as they played Leicester off the park despite the 3-2 scoreline.
Gillingham managed a win also last week, beating high flying Brighton 1-0 at home with a goal from Delroy Facey. Hopefully on show for the Gills will be our old mate Nicky Southall. He was a crowd favourite at the City Ground and rarely let us down. He returned to the Gills back in January for family reasons, but can be sure of a warm reception from the crowd.
Gillingham are of course managerless at the moment, but caretaker Iffy Onuora has expressed an interest in taking the job. He’s favourite to get it, unless chairman Paul Scally appoints Jose Mourinho beforehand. Forest fans will remember Scally from his involvement in the Matty Jarvis affair last year, when we were supposed to have signed the player. But the players agent scuppered any proposed deal even though Forest and the Gills had agreed a fee. Don’t ya just love agents?
Ahead of the game, the Gills have brought in two new players on loan. Chris Gibson, a striker from Charlton and the impressive Adam Nowland from Preston. Nowland made 5 appearances for Forest back in 2005.
Vital Quotes:
Nottingham Forest Team News:
Matty Lockwood is back in contention for a place, after completing a full 90 mins for the reserves in the 1-0 win against Port Vale in midweek. The game will come too early for midfielder Lewis McGugan, who did manage 20 mins in the same game.
Player to watch: Chris Cohen
Cohen set up a goal on his debut for the Reds at Port Vale and also impressed in the midweek Carling Cup game. If he plays well, then so should Forest.
Gillingham Team News:
The Gills have no fresh injuries to report ahead of the game
Player to watch: Delroy Facey
The former West Brom and Bolton striker got 11 goals in 43 appearances last year. The 6ft tall star man of the Gills frontline will have to be watched.
Match Facts & Stats
The two sides have met a total of 16 times in the league. Three meetings last year, including one in the JPT all ended in victories for the Reds. Out of the 16 league games, Forest have won 8, lost 4 and drawn 4.
Match Prediction:
2-0 to the good guys.
Next Fixtures:
Yeovil (A). September 29, 2007.
