Nottingham Forest face arguably their biggest game for more than two decades when they head to Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
And boss Steve Cooper will be mulling over how the Reds should line up as they look to take the fight for automatic promotion down to the final day. Does the Welshman stick or twist with his starting XI?
Forest were unchanged on Saturday. The same team which had returned with three points from the midweek trip to Fulham claimed another impressive result as Swansea City were thumped 5-1.
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Cooper will be eager to keep that momentum going. It would be no surprise if he named the same side for the crunch clash on the south coast.
Substitutes Joe Lolley, Richie Laryea and Alex Mighten all did well against the Swans, with the latter rounding off the scoring courtesy of a determined piece of play. The trio will hope to have caught the manager’s eye, but they may well find it tough to force their way into the first XI just now.
The Reds go to the Vitality Stadium knowing anything other than a Cherries victory will keep their hopes of pinching second spot alive. But in his pre-match press conference, Cooper was keen to stress they will take the same approach as for every other game - playing to win.
Steve Cook replaced Tobias Figueiredo at the heart of the back three at Craven Cottage, making his first start since returning from injury. And he kept his place for the final game of the regular season at the City Ground.
Dropping to the bench was harsh on Figueiredo, with the Portuguese having been excellent in his teammate’s absence. But Cook justified the decision with an outstanding display in the capital and his experience could be vital against his former club.
Going into the weekend, Cooper listed Jack Colback, Philip Zinckernagel and Sam Surridge as injury doubts. All three were given the green light, though, and came through okay against Swansea.
Surridge has been managing a groin problem, and as the only fit out-and-out striker the manager was no doubt keen to wrap him in cotton wool once Saturday’s game was won. After a brilliant hat-trick, he was brought off to a standing ovation.
Xande Silva had been left off the substitutes’ bench for that one due to illness, being replaced by Under-18s youngster Dale Taylor. But the former West Ham United man is back available and could be included in the matchday squad again on Tuesday.
Predicted Forest XI: Samba; Worrall, Cook, McKenna; Spence, Yates, Garner, Colback; Zinckernagel; Johnson, Surridge.
