Clough out to ruin Forest’s hopes of glory

Nigel Clough has urged his Burton players to focus on the prize dangling before them as he attempts to ruin former club Nottingham Forest’s Carabao Cup dream.

Clough, whose father Brian twice guided Forest to European Cup glory, made more than 400 appearances for the club as a player, but is intent on denying them a place in the League Cup quarter-finals when they head for the Pirelli Stadium tonight.

He said: “The last 16 of the Carabao Cup is a big, big tie and we have twice European champions coming to town. It’s a good tie for us and it has come at a good time for us as well.

“They are very strong defensively and I think it will be a tight affair because of the prize, even for them.

“The last eight of a major competition is a massive prize and Forest will not rule out going to the final. If they get past us and get another kind draw, anything can happen.”

Forest will make the short trip to League One Burton sitting in seventh place in the Sky Bet Championship after a run of just one defeat in 10 games in all competitions.

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe has warned his players not to get ahead of themselves as they entertain Championship Norwich four days before welcoming Manchester United to the Vitality Stadium.

Norwich have already dispatched top-flight opposition in this year’s competition with a second-round victory at Cardiff.

Leicester’s home tie with Southampton has been postponed as a mark of respect to Foxes owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four other people killed when his helicopter crashed on Saturday evening.