Here are your latest Nottingham Forest headlines from NottinghamshireLive on Saturday, April 8.
Serge Aurier injury situation outlined as Nottingham Forest fight for Premier League survival
Nottingham Forest will give defender Serge Aurier “every chance” of being fit to face Aston Villa on Saturday.
The right-back has missed the last two games after picking up a knock while on international duty with Ivory Coast. He remains a doubt for the trip to Villa Park, where the Reds will attempt to bounce back from their midweek defeat at Leeds United.
Neco Williams had a particularly tough night at Elland Road while filling in for Aurier - as did Harry Toffolo on the opposite flank. As Forest fight for survival, head coach Steve Cooper would love to have as many players available as possible but is wary of taking any fitness risks.
Aurier, Lingard, McKenna - Forest injury state of play ahead of crucial Aston Villa clash REPUB
Nottingham Forest face a nine-game shootout as they bid to retain their Premier League status.
Goal difference is keeping the Reds out of the relegation zone following Tuesday night's defeat to Leeds United. Steve Cooper's side have now gone eight matches without a win and desperately need a turnaround in fortunes.
Next up is a trip to face Aston Villa on Saturday, with owner Evangelos Marinakis having warned results and performances must improve "immediately". Injuries continue to limit the options available to Cooper, however. Ahead of the clash at Villa Park, here's a look at the current state of play.
Felipe responds to four-word Nottingham Forest message ahead of Aston Villa clash
Nottingham Forest midfielder Orel Mangala has posted a message to fans ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Aston Villa.
The 25-year-old opened the scoring with his first goal for the Forest in the midweek clash at Leeds United on Tuesday. But Forest couldn’t hold onto the lead and eventually lost 2-1 to deepen their relegation fears.
Defeat at Elland Road meant only goal difference is keeping Steve Cooper ’s men outside the bottom three going into the weekend game at Villa Park. A win there could lift the Reds as high as 13th in the table, depending on other results, but with Leicester City and Bournemouth playing each other, anything other than three points could see Forest drop into the bottom three.
Forest staff member and Brentford coach charged five months after City Ground row
Nottingham Forest’s ground manager and Brentford’s goalkeeping coach have both been charged five months after an altercation at the City Ground.
Prior to the 2-2 draw between the sides in November, there was a clash between staff during the warm-up. Bees boss Thomas Frank claimed goalkeeping coach Manu Sotelo was injured after an argument with a member of the Reds’ ground staff.
The Football Association have now completed their investigation and they have charged Sotelo and Forest’s Ewan Hunter.
READ NEXT:
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- Forest notebook: Cooper's key point, transfer issue sorted, Felipe's top stat
- Forest priority laid out after Evangelos Marinakis' results warning
- Chris Sutton makes bleak Nottingham Forest prediction vs Aston Villa
