Nigel Clough has brought in a couple of loan players during the window and his team has responded with improved performances and results.
Jacob Davenport a midfielder from Manchester City, Darren Bent from Derby County and Martin Samuelsen from West Ham; they've all played at least two games since joining and Samuelsen all three putting in 245 minutes.
'Winger Sean Scannell has returned to Huddersfield Town early from his loan spell with Championship side Burton Albion because of injury.
The 27-year-old played 19 matches for the Brewers after joining in August.
But he suffered a groin injury in training soon after the 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday on New Year's Day.'
Since beating Sheffield Wednesday 0-3 on January 1st, Clough's side have plumbed the depths and bobbed back to the surface, it has to be said. Four straight losses on the bounce, inclusive of a 6-0 thrashing by Fulham: however Clough's team were unlucky not to take something from the Villa game, losing 3-2. A better performance followed against a poor Ipswich and with better finishing by Marcus Bent might have taken all three points.
They will be very pleased to be facing the Reds this Saturday, they have a tough fixture list for the run in, but Clough will have them believing they can claim three points against us and push on from there.
'Luke Murphy and Ben Turner are the biggest injury doubts for Nigel Clough ahead of the home game against Nottingham Forest on Saturday (kick off 3pm).
Both players missed the trip to Ipswich after coming off injured at Aston Villa on February 3.
Clough said: “Luke Murphy has had the 12 stitches in his shin injury taken out but it’s not 100 per cent healed so we have to be careful with that.
“Ben Turner’s calf injury means he won’t train before Friday and we will see how he is. Tom Flanagan (calf) is still out. John Brayford got a knock on Saturday and is not training this week and Lloyd Dyer had a tight calf.'
“It will probably be the same 18, although maybe not the same formation or team." [Unashamedly nicked from Burtons webpage]
Thanks for telling us that Nigel, just in case we couldn't have guessed.
For those amongst us who think Forest should win this game easily, I would point out that we share exactly the same form over the past six games, four loses, one draw and one win.
Karanka has Forest and the board that appointed him, between a rock and a very hard place. Burton will see this as a game they can win, it's a game Karanka certainly cannot afford to lose and if he picks a team and tactics to suit, well perhaps we might nick all three points.
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Brewers V Forest Match Thread
posted on 17/2/18
That result could do us a world of good. Kept a clean sheet with backs against wall.
posted on 17/2/18
A draw isn’t bad. Lichaj will be a big miss. Must be getting woken up by Gunner too often so maybe he was a little ratty!
posted on 17/2/18
Looking at the highlights, Lichaj was unfortunate that he chose to slide in on a greasy surface where there was no opportunity to put the brakes on. The Burton lad turned away with the ball and that made it look worse. Can’t really argue with the red but it wasn’t a dirty tackle in all honesty.
posted on 18/2/18
Fox is still an awful LB. Good to see he had a decent game at CB.
I think even AK has learnt his lesson with Fox. When Lichaj went off he put in Osborn, as opposed to moving Colback back there.
Darikwa looked terrible. Amazingly poor for 2m.
Figures had a great game. I think Worrall is going to have to earn his place back.
Lichaj's red card was unlucky. I think we'd have taken 3 points otherwise.,
posted on 18/2/18
Just seen the hilights on Ifollow and that was a hard fought point we got. Even Tomlin put in a shift and tracked back.
posted on 19/2/18
Let me get this straight. We let two left backs go last summer, we let another go in January, so now we should let our one remaining left back go as well (although he is a better CB)?
Tomorrow night we should keep the same CB pairing. There is no reason to change it. I would sooner play Fox in the middle and Iacovitti at LB. Darikwa seems like our only option at RB.
posted on 19/2/18
comment by Redfor50yrs (U2973)
posted 1 day, 18 hours ago
Fuentes might get a game, if not why not risk Iacovitti
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Iacovitti wasn't getting a game at FGR before he was recalled, so not deemed ready; somebody suggested that non league was his level. I haven't seen him play, he was on the bench against Wycombe and didn't make a appearance.
posted on 19/2/18
comment by Will Scarlet (U17891)
posted a day ago
Yes, Worrall is the future and Fox is out of contract in the summer. There is little chance of him getting a renewal. He would have to display some stunning form in the next few months to even make Karanka think twice.
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Karanka says he is in contract negotiations, I have to say he isn't the worse player in the squad and made a game saving block on Saturday that might have just kept Karanka in his job.
posted on 19/2/18
I agree with Red50, don't change a successful combination.
Darikwa has never looked like a fullback to me, but I don't think that defending, blocking crosses into the box was seen as his primary role.
posted on 19/2/18
According to Wikipedia Iacovitti played 14 games for FGR this season before we recalled him. Some may have been sub appearances of course. If not Iacovitti tomorrow the another left footed defender from the U23s.
I think starting with three at the back would be too radical for AK.