Forest boss: Swansea are now best in Championship
NOTTINGHAM Forest manager Sabri Lamouchi has hailed Swansea City as the best team in the Championship so far this season ahead of his side’s clash with Steve Cooper’s men this afternoon.
The Swans claimed 16 points from the 18 on offer in August to go into today’s clash with Forest as Championship leaders.
Forest themselves have enjoyed a decent start to life under Frenchman Lamouchi, winning three and drawing two of their last five league outings after their opening day defeat to West Brom.
And Lamouchi says Swansea will be full of confidence having won every match on their home patch so far this term.
“It will be a very tough game, of course. We go to the leaders and the best team until now. They are unbeaten at home, three games and three wins so they are confident,” said Lamouchi.
“With their last result at Leeds, this game is really important for them mentally and to give more confidence. They are a different team to Leeds or Fulham but they are a really strong team. They have a good balance between the offensive and defensive parts.”
Forest will be without defender Carl Jenkinson and striker Rafa Mir for the game in South Wales.
As for the Swans, they are sweating on the fitness of Joe Rodon who picked up a knock during Wales’ 1-0 win over Belarus at Cardiff City Stadium on Monday night.
Nathan Dyer is available for selection, although summer signing Aldo Kalulu is not in contention to feature.
“They’re an experienced team with lots of well known players and there’s some Premier League experience in there aswell,” said Cooper.
“They know their way around the league. I’ve made the players aware of that. They’ve only lost one game which was the first game of the season which was a mad five minutes really where they conceded a couple of goals.”
Predicted lineups –
Swansea City: Woodman; Roberts, van der Hoorn, Rodon, Bidwell; Fulton, Grimes; Ayew, Dhanda, Celina; Borja.
Nottingham Forest: Samba, Cash, Dawson, Worrall, Robinson, Sow, Lolley, Carvalho, Semedo, Ameobi, Grabban.