Nottingham Forest has been enduring a rough patch in recent weeks, and as they face Ange Postecoglou’s side this weekend, we may find ourselves in a favorable position to secure a win.
With Forest struggling due to injuries and a lack of new manager bounce, the chants of “sacked in the morning” from disgruntled fans during Thursday night’s game at the City Ground highlight their current predicament. Postecoglou’s Reds suffered their fourth defeat in six games as they were narrowly beaten 3-2 by Kevin Mbabu’s FC Midtjylland in the Europa League clash.
Adding to their woes, star center-back Murillo, who recently returned from a thigh injury, had to be substituted off midway through the first half, casting doubt on his availability for the upcoming trip to St James’ Park. Alongside Murillo, Forest also faces absences in key positions, with the likes of right-back Ola Aina, left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko, and midfielder Douglas Luiz sidelined due to injuries.
Postecoglou provided uncertain comments on Murillo’s injury post-game, stating, “I’m not sure. I haven’t seen him, so I’m not really sure what’s wrong with him.” Despite the disappointing outcome on Thursday, Postecoglou remains focused on preparations for the upcoming match against Newcastle, emphasizing the importance of regrouping and readying the team for another challenging battle.
Reports from The Times suggest that Postecoglou’s job could be in jeopardy if Forest fails to secure a positive result this weekend, intensifying the pressure in a week where Newcastle showcased a strong performance with a 4-0 victory in the Champions League.
As we gear up for the clash against Forest, let’s aim to capitalize on their vulnerabilities and aim to conclude this period before the international break on a positive note.
