Forest get back in action this weekend with an away fixture at Hillsborough against Sheffield Wednesday after the F.A awarded English football a 2 week break to celebrate Nathan Tyson’s flag waving technique (they did also fit in a couple of England victories to help pass the time). Forest suffered a dismal 1 – 0 defeat on their last visit to Hillsborough & haven’t tasted victory on that ground since 2002.
Billy Davies
I know we had momentum on our side with two wins and a draw inside eight days but the flip side of that was we need a rest.
When we return to competitive games we have seven games inside 21 days and, by any standards, that’s a tall order
Sheffield Wednesday Team News:
The bigger of the 2 Sheffield clubs have started the season with 2 wins & 2 draws from their opening 5 fixtures and sit in 8th place. Looking back through their home results over the last couple of years shows they’ve not been beaten at home by more than one goal since way back in October of 2007 & conceded just 14 goals in 23 home fixtures last season. They do head the league table in fouls committed so far in league competition with 80 in their 5 games although they have only 6 yellow cards.
Player to watch: Marcus Tudgay
He’s started the season in great form with 3 goals & 4 assists in his 7 starts this season in all competitions.
Nottingham Forest Team News:
Got their first league win of the season in their last fixture over bitter rivals Derby County which followed a League Cup victory over recently relegated Middlesbrough so confidence should be high. Kelvin Wilson may be fit to return to the 1st team squad & no suspension has been placed on Tyson yet after flaggate so he too will be available for selection. This game looks to be to soon for both Guy Moussi & Joel Lynch though who both hit the come back trail in midweek with a reserve friendly v Aston Villa. After a slow start to the season the Forest attack seem to have hit form with 8 goals in 4 games but the leaky defence still seems, well, leaky.
Player to watch: Nathan Tyson
As well as hitting the National press recently he also seems to have hit some form with his goal in the derby adding to 2 assists in his 4 starts (+ coming on as a sub in the other 3 fixtures)
Match Facts & Stats
This will be the 117th league encounter between the two teams & over the last 116 it really couldn’t have been closer with Forest leading by just two victories (48 to 46) along with 22 draws & it’s even closer on the goals front with just a single goal separating the two which again see’s Forest take the slightest of advantages 160 to 159.
Ref Watch:
Steve Tanner of Sumerset will take charge of this fixture, he last took charge of a Forest game in the 1 – 0 City Ground win against Coventry in April.
He’ll be assisted by Rob Lewis of Shropshire & Simon Long of Sufolk
Fourth Official for the day will be Nigel Miller of County Durham
Match Prediction:
It’s hard to predict anything other than a close game here, a draw is probably the best bet but i’m going to stick my neck out with a nervy 2 – 1 away win.
Next Fixtures:
Tuesday, 15 September 19:45
The Football League Championship
Ipswich v Nottm Forest
