Fulham vs Nottingham Forest injury news, predicted line-up and TV details
Nottingham Forest face Fulham in the Premier League at Craven Cottage tonight looking to arrest an alarming run of form.
The Reds have one win in 10 and put in their worst performance of the season last time out against Everton as they lost 1-0 at the City Ground, with boos ringing out on the final whistle. All of that means the pressure is back on manager Steve Cooper.
However, Cooper has proven perform that he can get the team back on track when the chips are down and he will hope to do so again. Here, we look at the team news, predicted line-ups, what the manager has said and if the game is on TV.
Team news
Willy Boly came off against Everton with a hip injury and Chris Wood hyperextended his knee in the first half. Danilo also missed the game through illness, but in more positive news, Felipe made his first appearance of the season as he came on at half time against Everton, although it remains to be seen if he is able to start a midweek game. Taiwo Awoniyi is out for three to four months.
For Fulham, Issa Diop, Adama Traore, Rodrigo Muniz and Tyrese Francois will all miss the game.
What the manager said
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Cooper said: “I’ve spoken to the ownership every day since Saturday, including last night. It’s been more about the team, the last game and the next game - nothing really out of the norm.
“We all want the same thing, and that is to get more points and better results than what we’ve had in the last few games. Everyone is really committed to putting that right.
“It is not the first time I have had to answer questions like that, since we have got to the Premier League. It was only five or six games into last season that those things were coming at me and there were numerous occasions after that as well.
“It is not a new experience for me and I will deal with it exactly as I did other times previously. That means I will focus on the things I am in control of. That is your day-to-day work with the players and trying to get the results we all want.
“There is no change in the approach. It was a disappointing result and we will not hide away from the fact that it was the third one (defeat) and there is nothing good about that."
Possible and predicted line-ups
Cooper has a number of options but all are from a position of weakness with Forest losing games and struggling to cover the absence of Taiwo Awoniyi. Here, we take a look at the possible line-ups he could play at Craven Cottage.
4-3-3
Personnel wise, Ola Aina could come back in for a below par Serge Aurier and there is the question of who partners Murillo with Boly a doubt, Moussa Niakhate benched against Everton and Felipe only just back from injury. Joe Worrall and Scott McKenna have fallen well down the pecking order.
In midfield, Nicolas Dominguez will hope for a recall. Three in midfield feels important as it is a strong area for Fulham with the excellent Joao Palhinha. The big question is upfront and what to do with Chris Wood? He was poor versus Everton but has got three goals this season and played well earlier in the season against Luton when he scored twice. Could Morgan Gibbs-White play as a false nine? It's not something you would do if the team was playing well, but it could work if Forest pass the ball with more bravery than they did against Everton.
4-2-3-1
Forest's most attacking formation, it would allow Gibbs-White to play centrally, but would leave you a man light in midfield. As Lewis McGugan said on Monday's podcast, it's not worked with Gibbs-White as a traditional 10 with Forest losing battles with a two man midfield. However, they haven't done it too many times this season and two of Sangare, Mangala and Dominguez should be able to compete.
It would be a positive formation, but a risky one given how attacking it is and how Forest have struggled defensively.
3-4-3
Here me out. Not many people like three at the back as it's seen as too defensive, but if the wing-backs push on it could work. Crucially, this formation would allow Murillo to get on the ball and carry it forwards. Weirdly, he's one of Forest's most creative players even though he's a central defender. If Forest play Origi or Gibbs-White centrally they can play on the counter attack, but they need to be much better on the ball and Origi really needs to step up if he gets a start.
Predicted team (4-3-3): Vlachodimos, Aina, Niakhate, Murillo, Toffolo; Mangala, Sangare, Dominguez, Gibbs-White, Wood, Elanga
Is the game on TV?
Yes, it's on Amazon Prime if you subscribe. Kick-off is at 7.30pm.
It sounds like Forest were really under pressure going into this match, especially after such a poor performance against Everton. The injuries to Boly and Wood certainly don’t make things any easier, while having Felipe back is at least some positive news for the defence. I also find the comments from Cooper interesting, particularly the fact that he was speaking with the ownership so regularly after the recent results. A game like this could have been a good opportunity to stop the slide and give the team some confidence again. 22casino
Crucial fixture for Forest, especially with the injury list mounting up in key positions. Managing the midfield transition against Fulham at Craven Cottage is going to demand complete tactical discipline from the starting eleven. Following the intense buildup and tactical debates all week takes a lot of mental energy. When I want to switch off before matchday and clear my head, I usually take a quick evening breather on play regals. Great match preview and lineup breakdown!
I would go with lineup 1 but wouldn't be unhappy with lineup 3 either. Massive game tonight, hopefully not Coopers last