Aston Villa head across the Midlands to face Nottingham Forest in game week nine of the Premier League. Here is this fixture’s match preview…
THE BUILD UP
Villa drew 0-0 with Leeds United last time out, but rued missed chances following a Luis Sinisterra red card on the stroke of half-time. The Villans came close to opening the scoring on several occasions but could not find the winner.
Nottingham Forest were heavily defeated 4-0 by rivals Leicester City in their most recent fixture. The Reds find themselves bottom of the league on just four points, having only won once this term.
Steven Gerrard will be encouraged by his side’s recent form as the West-Midlands outfit are on a three-game unbeaten run. The former Rangers boss is looking for all three points in this next fixture, and aims to ‘move up the table as quick as we can.’
Forest fans, despite poor results, will be delighted by Friday’s confirmation that Steve Cooper had signed a contract extension with the club. Despite speculation that Cooper would be the next Premier League manager to get axed, the club have full confidence in the head coach and full focus will be on Monday’s home clash.
A BIT ON FOREST
Nottingham Forest embarked on a superb run during their EFL Championship campaign last year. Chris Hughton started the term in charge, but the former Brighton & Hove Albion boss was quickly sacked following a poor start to proceedings. Steve Cooper would change things immediately and inspired his side to a 4th place finish – a position that appeared impossible at one stage.
The two-time European Cup winners triumphed in the play-offs, getting the better of Sheffield United in the semi-finals and Huddersfield Town in the inaugural final. The newly promoted side had an exciting summer transfer window as 22 new players walked though the doors at The City Ground. Steve Cooper’s fine work last season was rewarded as he was given approximately Β£160 million to spend.
The step-up to the Premier League is always a difficult task for promoted sides, but the vast change in personnel and the demand on the new arrivals to adjust to a new system in such a short amount of time has been NFFC’s downfall thus far. The Reds have lost all of their previous five games in the league and have only scored four goals in that time.
Steve Cooper will aim to turn this form around and prove to the owners and fans that the correct decision was made to keep him at the club.
THE GAFFER’S THOUGHTS
Steven Gerrard faced the press on Thursday afternoon and addressed a number of questions and queries around the club.
When asked about the team’s recent results, he said: βThereβs been an improvement but what I will say is we need to keep striving for more improvement and better results.
The boss remains positive and is optimistic that his side can climb up the table. He said: βRecent performances have given us a platform but thereβs no one on the inside at Villa who thinks weβre there. We know weβve got to keep pushing in every way, shape and form.
Gerrard was also questioned about the opposition, he answered: βThey recruited really well and signed a lot of good players. From where I am, to think about how youβd deal with that and manage that, it would be extremely tough and challenging.
TEAM NEWS AND PREDICTED LINE-UP
AUTHOR | LIAM DAVIES
Author’s UTV PODCAST archive liamayrtondavies – UTV Podcast | An Aston Villa Blog
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