FULHAM v STOKE CITY
SABRI LAMOUCHI has called for promotion chasers Nottingham Forest to remain calm in the face of a storm.
Forest had not won in five matches before a much-needed 2-0 away win over Hull
City on Boxing Day.
But the Frenchman, whose side have slipped just outside the play-off places, has stressed now is not the time to panic.
“We have to keep calm, be consistent, be efficient and keep working,” said Lamouchi (below), ahead of his side’s home showdown with basement boys Wigan who beat them earlier in the season.
“We lost against Wigan before, so we have to focus.”
Loan duo Arijanet Muric and Rafa Mir didn’t even make the squad for victory over the Tigers, and are once again expected to be omitted this weekend, while Samba Sow faces a late fitness test. Frustrated
Latics boss Paul Cook has admitted it’s “painful” to watch his misfiring team, especially after conceding so many late goals this season to miss out on crucial points.
“Unfortunately, at the minute, we just can’t take that final step,” said Cook.
“It’s boring now, we’re doing really well in games but watching us is painful. We’re playing well and not winning. That’s the difficult thing for a manager.
“These blows are repetitive, tough. The reality is we play well but we don’t convert chances and get results.”
SAM CLUCAS says guilt over failure has dragged down Stoke’s campaign.
The Potters midfielder made the frank admission after the club had stared into the abyss just a few moments from the end of their Boxing Day clash against Sheffield Wednesday.
Stoke faced going into the final game of the calendar year rock-bottom as they trailed the Owls.
And with Wigan beating Derby it seemed as if a club that had spent most of the decade in the Premier League would be starting 2020 needing a revival to keep them out of League One.
But late goals at the bet365 Stadium and in Lancashire both lifted the gloom – and Stoke out of the drop zone.
And Clucas believes collective guilt at a club with a hefty wage bill has had an effect. Asked why the Potters have struggled so badly, he said: “I’ve been asked that 1,000 times this season.
“When you look at our squad we shouldn’t be where we are. I’ve done countless interviews, we’re in every day, I see the quality we have.
“Honestly, it was one of the most exciting pre-seasons I’ve ever had. I genuinely thought we had a good chance of being at the top, fighting for promotion and then what’s gone on, is hard to put into words.
“There’s been some turmoil. I think when the club was relegated from the Premier League it was in a downward spiral and everyone expected the club to bounce back up.
“That’s perhaps a bit unfair because teams don’t do that.