Written by billythekid
After the evening home game against Wolves which ended in a 0-0 draw, AFCB’s next game is away to one of the sides promoted with us last season, Nottingham Forest. Again our club will play without a permanent manager after Scott Parker was relieved of his duties earlier this week. Gary O’Neill taking temporary charge with the help of Shaun Cooper and Tommy Elphick when they visit Forest’s City Ground on the banks of the River Trent on Saturday at 3 pm.
Steve Cooper took his Nottingham Forest team up into the Premier League after beating Huddersfield Town in the Championship play-off final last season. This is the first time back for Forest into the top league since the 1998-99 season. The season of 1997-98 saw Dave Bassett in his first season as Nottingham Forest manager, see his team finish top of Division 1 with 94 points, 3 points clear of Middlesbrough in second place. In his first season with Forest in the Premier League, Dave Bassett didn’t get the chance to see the season out and was sacked in January and Ron Atkinson took over but couldn’t save Forest from relegation and he resigned at the end of the season and retired from football as a manager.
This season after the promotion has seen a big turnaround at Nottingham Forest in players coming in and leaving. Steve Cooper had to strengthen his side as his team that gained promotion had a number of loanees. So far in the Summer transfer window Forest have brought in 17 players. Amongst their new signings have been the club record signing of midfield player Morgan Gibbs-White from Wolves for £42.5 million, and defender Neco Williams from Liverpool for £17 million. On loan goalkeeper Dean Henderson and Jesse Lingard on a free transfer, both from Manchester United. Some others from this country and abroad. Around 20 players have left the club including their former goalkeeper Brice Samba who joined RC Lens for an undisclosed fee.
In their first season back in the top league Forest started the season with a 2-0 defeat against Newcastle United. The next match was at home against West Ham, Forest won 1-0. They then travelled to the blue side of Liverpool to play Everton, it finished honours even 1-1. Back home they came up against Spurs and lost 0-2. The most recent game was Wednesday night away against Manchester City, the game ended in a 6-0 defeat. After five games both Nottingham Forest and AFCB have the same win, draw and lose stats, plus both sides have scored twice, but Forest have conceded five fewer goals.
The last time we met Forest away was August last year in the Championship. The Cherries took the lead with a goal from David Brooks in the first half and that was how it remained until half-time. Three minutes into the second half Forest equalised through Scott McKenna, but ten minutes later Philip Billing put the Cherries back in front. Two minutes later David Brooks was sent off for a second yellow card, but our team held on to their lead and recorded their first away win ever against Nottingham Forest.
In all our away league games with Nottingham Forest, AFCB have W 1, D 4, L 4.
In all competitions, AFCB have W 7, D 5, L 6.
Nottm Forest v AFCB
Nottm Forest Win
Draw
AFCB Win
Nottingham Forest Team News
They have a few injuries, Moussa Niakhate has a thigh injury, Omar Richards leg injury and Orel Mangala with a hamstring injury.
Nottingham Forest Player To Watch
Three young players in their early twenties, Brennan Johnson, scored 18 goals last season and had 10 assists, very lively player. Morgan Gibbs-White,12 goals and had 10 assists on loan at Sheffield United last season. The third and for me possibly one of their best signings, Neco Williams, a very strong all-round player.
AFCB Team News
No new injuries were reported from Wednesday night’s game.
AFCB Player To Watch
Our best players against Wolves were in midfield, Tavernier, Christie and Cook. If they can dominate the midfield on Saturday our side could come away from the City ground with a point if not three, but we need to start scoring goals again.
The Referee
Michael Oliver is in charge of this game.
We had him in the 2019-20 season away in our 1-0 defeat at Molineux against Wolves.
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