Barnsley v Forest. Ahead of Saturday's meeting at Oakwell, Seat Pitch - the obsessive-compulsive Nottingham Forest site, tell us what we can expect from the visitors.
What were/are your expectations for 2013-14?
The more optimistic amongst us expected promotion after another summer spending heavily. However, I think the manager knew we were a couple of players short of competing for a top two place. Play-offs was pretty much a given for most and the fact that we’re still rebuilding a squad that was threadbare 18 months ago meant it would take a little time for things to gel. Unfortunately, just as things were coming together we’ve sustained long-term injuries to several key players.
What's been your favourite match this season?
We went through a period just after Christmas when everything just seemed to click — we beat QPR, Leeds, West Ham, and later Blackburn and Watford, with a couple of draws against Bolton and Reading thrown in — and our football was pretty scintillating at times. I think the QPR match was perhaps the most impressive, given that we made them look pretty ordinary and it was a game in which Andy Reid, Henri Lansbury and David Vaughan looked like the best midfield trio we’ve seen in years. All three are ruled out at present.
What is the secret sauce behind Forest's success this season?
Andy Reid, Jack Hobbs and, more recently, Jamie Paterson have been the most impressive, and consistent, players for us this season. Reid’s class stands out in the Championship, and we lack drive and momentum without him in the side, while Paterson didn’t score until January but now has 10 goals to his name. The early season run and the more recent unbeaten run showed the potential we have when it goes right. But there are times when it’s an extremely frustrating experience: conceding late equalisers; missing golden chances to finish games off; and, most importantly, losing players to injury.
Who will feature in the starting eleven on Saturday?
Well, with several players now out for the long-term it’s looking like a squad game at the moment. Karl Darlow has continued to be a revelation in goal but our first-choice back four are all ruled out, as are our best midfielders. Assuming we have a couple returning, I’d expect something like this: Darlow; Jara, Lascelles, Collins, Fox; Moussi, Greening; Mackie, Majewski, Paterson; Cox. Our Algerian internationals Rafik Djebbour and Djamel Abdoun will probably come off the bench.
How will Forest approach the game at Barnsley?
After defeats to Burnley and Wigan I’d hope we’d be motivated to get the season back on track — particularly with other clubs chasing down the play-off positions. But as Billy Davies said after last Saturday’s defeat, we look a side short on confidence so it’s difficult to predict.
We usually look to dominate possession, concentrating on a passing game and bring the midfielders into dangerous positions. We lacked a cutting edge last weekend and inviting pressure on our goal by defending too deep so I’d imagine Davies has looked to rectify that in training this week.
What's your score prediction?
I’d like to see three points but a draw is perhaps more likely, 2-2?
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