Head coach Steve Cooper has named his Nottingham Forest team to face Aston Villa in this afternoon’s crunch clash.
The Reds make the trip to Villa Park in desperate need of an upturn in fortunes. Ahead of kick-off, only goal difference is keeping them out of the bottom three.
Tuesday night’s 2-1 defeat to relegation rivals Leeds United was particularly damaging. Forest let slip a lead given to them by Orel Mangala to crash to an eighth successive game without a win.
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With Cooper coming under pressure, owner Evangelos Marinakis released a statement the following day backing his manager. But the Greek also warned that results must improve “immediately”.
In a bid to turn around his side’s miserable form, Cooper makes three changes against Villa. There is also a tweak to the formation, with the Welshman opting for three at the back.
Joe Worrall comes into the side, joining Felipe and Moussa Niakhate in the defence. With Serge Aurier still absent, Neco Williams keeps his place in the line-up. The change in shape means he will take up a wing-back role, with Harry Toffolo on the opposite flank.
Cheikhou Kouyate makes his first start since recovering from injury, joining Jonjo Shelvey and Danilo in midfield. Brennan Johnson and Morgan Gibbs-White keep their places in attack.
There is a return to the squad for Jesse Lingard. He joins Wayne Hennessey, Mangala, Taiwo Awoniyi, Sam Surridge, Remo Freuler, Emmanuel Dennis, Scott McKenna and Andre Ayew on the bench.
Forest: Navas; Williams, Worrall, Felipe, Niakhate, Toffolo; Shelvey, Kouyate, Danilo; Johnson, Gibbs-White. Subs: Hennessey, Mangala, Awoniyi, Lingard, Surridge, Freuler, Dennis, McKenna, Ayew.
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