Nottingham Forest v AFC Bournemouth

billythekid

UTC Legend
Looking For First Win At The City Ground

With our club entering the Quarter Finals of the FA Cup for the second time in our history, with a 0-2 victory at Turf Moor against Premier League Burnley on Tuesday night, with our goals from Sam Surridge in the first half and the normal Junior Stanislas ‘special’ from the penalty spot towards the end of the game, we are away again, this time with league action Live on Sky at 12.30 pm on Saturday.

The Cherries will be making the trip up to the City Ground the home of Nottingham Forest our next opponents, we have never beaten them there. Forest had plans at one time to move away from the City Ground to a new site, but with one thing and another, these plans never materialised and their latest plans are to redevelop the ground. There have been changes in the Forest personnel camp since our last 2-0 victory against them at Dean Court, with a goal in each half from Junior Stanislas, the second from the penalty spot. Chris Hughton has added another ex Cherries player to his squad in Glenn Murray from Brighton on a free transfer, to join Harry Arter, Lewis Grabban and Lyle Taylor.

Nottingham Forest after losing at Dean Court had two home games on the bounce, first they lost to Swansea 0-1 and drew with Watford 0-0. In further home games they lost 1-3 against Brentford and then beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1. Then followed a 0-0 draw with Birmingham City, 3-1 win over Millwall, 1-2 defeat against Middlesbrough and in their last home game a 0-0 draw with Barnsley. Away from home since we played them, they have W 3, D 2, L 2.

The last time we played Forest at their ground was in our Championship winning season of 2014-15, they did the double over us, winning 2-1 in the February at the City Ground, our goal coming from Andrew Surman after only 3 minutes to give us the lead, but they scored two goals before half-time which were enough to win the game. The game at Dean Court also ended 1-2, again AFCB scored first but in the second half from Callum Wilson in the 58thminute, they put the game to bed in a five minute spell, with two goals in the 67th and 72nd minute. They were only one of two teams to do the double over us that season, the other was Leeds United.

In all our league away games against Forest, AFCB have W 0, D 3, L 4.

In all league games, we have never met in the cup, AFCB have W 5, D 4, L 6.

Nottingham Forest Team News
Lewis Grabban was left out of the squad for the Wycombe Wanderers game because of a slight hamstring problem. Another player to miss that game because of injury was Sammy Ameobi. Other injuries, Samba Sow, Harry Arter who has had a calf problem, another player with calf injury is Ryan Yates.

Nottingham Forest Player To Watch
Glen Murray did well in the Championship the last time he played there. I know he is 37, but he had a good game away at Wycombe Wanderers scoring a brace. Anthony Knockaert his teammate at Brighton will be playing alongside him.

AFCB Team News
Still waiting for news about how long Solanke will be out. Otherwise will be a strong squad to pick from and a difficult decision after his two games in charge where the team won. Did Surridge do enough to guarantee a starting place on Saturday?

AFCB player To Watch
Hoping Ben Pearson will start this game after a positive start in his first game at Burnley. Jack Wilshere will be another, had a good game against Birmingham and was rested for the cup game.
 
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First double of the season coming up
Looking for a confident and dominant performance first and foremost, then the result should be in our favour. If we go back to looking like we did in the Birmingham game then last night's performance was obviously a false dawn.
But I sincerely hope and believe that it was not !
:utc:
 
I'm sure we HAVE won at Forest before - in League 1. I think it was a convincing scoreline too. One of three visits there.
 
As Eddie, and Jason, have always said, an injury to one player means a great opportunity for another to prove his worth.

Real shame about Asmir, as he has been a star player for us so far this season. I hope Mark returns to us with some confidence from playing regular league football.
 
As Eddie, and Jason, have always said, an injury to one player means a great opportunity for another to prove his worth.

Real shame about Asmir, as he has been a star player for us so far this season. I hope Mark returns to us with some confidence from playing regular league football.
Unfortunately, judging by the COWS loan reports, it doesn't sound as if he has been playing particularly well for Swindon. I haven't seen the goals he has conceded but so far there were plenty of them :(
 
Unfortunately, judging by the COWS loan reports, it doesn't sound as if he has been playing particularly well for Swindon. I haven't seen the goals he has conceded but so far there were plenty of them :(
Reports suggest he hasn't been at fault and has made some great saves to keep scores down.

Important thing will be to not put him under undue pressure with risky pass backs if he plays.
 
Reports suggest he hasn't been at fault and has made some great saves to keep scores down.

Important thing will be to not put him under undue pressure with risky pass backs if he plays.
Good to hear. To be honest I would have expected him to excel at that level but maybe his defence there truly are hopeless and keeping the score down can be considered an achievement. As mentioned above, it can't hurt to have him here keeping Bego focused until the end of the season !
 

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