Options for boss in bid to extend unbeaten run
IT is back to Championship action for Nottingham Forest this weekend, with Millwall visiting the City Ground tomorrow (3pm).
Chris Hughton’s side will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to seven games in all competitions against the Lions, as they aim to start climbing the Championship table.
The Reds toppled Cardiff City in the FA Cup third round last time out, thanks to Lyle Taylor’s early strike.
But with boss Hughton having made eight changes to his starting eleven for that clash, have any of those who came in done enough to keep their place?
Here’s our verdict on the selection decisions facing the Forest manager and how his team might line up on Saturday.
■ GOALKEEPER
Jordan Smith was handed his first appearance of the season against the Bluebirds. But despite keeping a clean sheet, he will almost certainly have to wait for the FA Cup fourth round tie with Swansea City to make his next one.
Barring injury, Brice Samba remains first choice between the posts, so expect to see him back this weekend.
■ DEFENCE
It was very much a new look back line in the cup, with Joe Worrall one of only three survivors from the previous game.
And it is the central defensive partnership where Hughton has a big decision to make.
In the eyes of many observers, Worrall and Scott Mckenna should be the way forward.
They certainly impressed at the weekend, leaving the manager to decide whether to stick with the duo or bring back Tobias Figueiredo.
The Portuguese had started the last three games – competing with Loic Mbe Soh for the spot alongside Worrall while Mckenna was injured – and had played his part in two clean sheets.
He’d been guilty of individual errors amid a below-par run of form previously but had started to look more like his old self in recent weeks, so it’s not necessarily an easy call to make.
Carl Jenkinson and Gaetan Bong came in at right and left-back respectively and did well enough but it would still be a surprise if they started tomorrow.
Bong set up Taylor’s goal but Cyrus Christie and Yuri Ribeiro have been mainstays of the defence under Hughton, so the likelihood is they will come back in – particularly as the manager has spoken about consistency in selection in the back line being key.
■ MIDFIELD
Samba Sow and Ryan Yates were given a rest last weekend, with Harry Arter stepping in and Cafu playing a deeper role than he has done previously.
Arter has been struggling for form but showed more of what you’d expect from him, when given a chance against Cardiff.
Whether he did enough to keep his place, though, remains to be seen. Yates and Sow have been effective at shielding the back four – even if some fans argue it’s at the expense of creativity.
It seems likely Cafu will revert to a more advanced position when Millwall visit.
■ATTACK
Sammy Ameobi and Joe Lolley took up the wide positions against the Bluebirds, with Miguel Angel Guerrero making up the attacking trio, in support of Taylor up front.
For Guerrero, especially, it was a real chance to impress but he didn’t exactly take it with both hands.
Cafu could well step back into that number 10 role, although with Taylor having bagged his goal, perhaps Hughton might consider fitting both him and Grabban into the starting eleven.
If not, more than likely the latter will come back in at the expense of his fellow forward, as he has been first-choice up front since returning from injury.
Lolley had made his first start in almost a month and did have a bright first half. Both he and Ameobi have struggled for form and consistency this term.
With Anthony Knockaert’s loan extension having been made official this week, the Fulham winger is almost certain to start – he has improved as time has gone on, after all.
Ameobi has been a regular starter but did not have his best game against Cardiff, so it could be Lolley holds down his spot.
Predicted Forest line-up: Samba, Christie, Worrall, Mckenna, Ribeiro, Sow, Yates, Lolley, Cafu, Knockaert, Grabban.