Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Brice Samba will be looking over his shoulder concerned that he could soon be replaced as the number one shot-stopper.
Samba, who has often acted as a pantomime villain with his game management antics, went one step too far yesterday when he collided with Steven Fletcher in the final moments of the Reds' clash with Stoke City.
Referee Leigh Doughty made no hesitation in sending off the shot-stopper and, with Forest having made all three substitutions, defender Joe Worrall was forced to take the gloves.
Despite Worrall conceding Lewis Baker's 88th-minute penalty, the Reds salvaged a point thanks to Ryan Yates' stoppage time header.
The red card to Samba means he will be absent for the upcoming matches against Bournemouth (A), Preston North End (A) and Bristol City (H).
"He knows he’s made a huge error," said head coach Steve Cooper on the incident after the 2-2 draw with Stoke City.
"For all of the mistakes the referee made today, I have no complaints with the red card
"He’s made a mistake, and it’s nearly cost us."
It leaves Cooper having to pick between Jordan Smith and Ethan Horvath as the man to replace Samba between the posts.
Horvath signed for the Reds in July 2021 and has found playing opportunities limited to just one Championship appearance and two outings in the EFL Cup.
It has been a similar story for Smith who, aside from two Premier League 2 appearances, has also been forced to watch proceedings from afar. At least Horvath has been involved in the matchday squads.
Despite their minimal involvement on the pitch, it is clear that both have left a good impression on Cooper and will have the opportunity to fight to replace Samba.
Speaking back in October 2021, Cooper told Nottinghamshire Live: "We’ve got three goalkeepers who have played, and can play, first-team football.
"Brice has the shirt at the moment, but Ethan hasn’t come here to sit around for too long. That’s good, that’s what we want. And Jordan will be similar as well.
"It’s still early days in terms of my time here. But they are pushing each other in training really well. Goalkeeping coach Danny (Alcock) is very, very happy with the application.
"The goalkeepers train with the outfield team 90 percent of the time anyway, so I see a lot of them day in, day out.
"There seems to be a goalkeepers union there where they are all pushing each other."
These next three matches could be a last chance saloon opportunity for Smith given his contract at the City Ground expires this summer; he will desperately be looking to provide reason for a contract extension or at least display his talents ahead of a move away.
