Are we about to push on, or be brought down to earth with a bump?
Villa think that they're about to go on a late run just like we do!
Dean Smith has been craving continuity after a wretched run of injuries and he now has the opportunity to implement that.
The back five which thwarted Blues on Sunday are certain to start at Forest which means Mile Jedinak will again be held in reserve.
Smith would probably welcome the opportunity to give Grealish a breather after his heroics against Derby and Blues but the magnitude of Wednesday night’s game makes that virtually impossible.
He could, however, give 35-year-old midfielder Glenn Whelan a well-earned rest to accommodate John McGinn.
McGinn stepped off the bench at St Andrew’s on Sunday to help swing the game in Villa’s favour and could replace Whelan with Hourihane slotting back into the holding midfield role he played before Christmas.
Tammy Abraham will obviously play through the centre but Smith could freshen things up either side of him. Albert Adomah and Anwar El Ghazi have flanked Abraham in the last two matches but neither shone on Sunday.
Andre Green and Jonathan Kodjia are waiting in the wings should Smith decide to make a change.
Henri Lansbury has returned to training on the grass, but won't be available for tomorrow night.
Pundits expect Villa to name an unchanged defence, but that defence didn't stop Brum having a couple of good late scoring chances that they failed to capitalise on.
Forest have to be confident going into this game, after ruthlessly destroying Hull during 10 power football minutes in the second half.
Will MON start with the same team or will Carvalho have earned a start after that cracking goal? Perhaps Murphy will be rested before the Ipswich game?
The wily Irishman certainly likes to keep his opponents guessing as to his formation and tactics.
Live @ http://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewLiveArticle/404973
One match ban enabled
Forest V Villa Match Thread
posted on 14/3/19
comment by Red Forest Bear ( Bear Knows) (U6288)
posted 31 minutes ago
2006 & 2012 for me, so George and Dave's VR scheme came in very handy; they body search you and remove anything of value before letting you out of the door though!
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The injections in the stomach were bloody painful and the pain in the leg itself was like nothing else I’ve ever experienced
posted on 15/3/19
comment by caniggiaforforest (U6917)
posted 13 hours, 24 minutes ago
comment by Will Scarlet (U17891)
posted about 9 hours ago
comment by Redfor50yrs (U2973)
posted about 2 hours ago
Caniggia, I'm not judging Soudani, how could I, but it doesn't alter the fact he hasn't contributed. Hopefully he will get his chance next season. Same applies to Byram. We have been badly hit by injuries to key players again this season and too many of our summer signings haven't been of the required standard.
Sheffield United have ten players who have started more than 25. We have six
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That’s quite a telling stat. Sheff U have had the same manager all season and the settled nature of things has allowed them to build momentum and they now find themselves in a great position.
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Will I like the way you describe Sheff Utd as having the same manager all season as if it’s unusual!
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😆 Sign of the times. Probably might go some way to explaining why this year’s Championship has been so inconsistent. Off the top of my head, I can only think of Brizzle (L Johnson), Sheff U and Norwich who’ve had the same managers for at least most of the last two seasons. Telling that they’re amongst the front runners in the promotion race.
posted on 15/3/19
comment by caniggiaforforest (U6917)
posted about 13 hours ago
comment by Red Forest Bear ( Bear Knows) (U6288)
posted 31 minutes ago
2006 & 2012 for me, so George and Dave's VR scheme came in very handy; they body search you and remove anything of value before letting you out of the door though!
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The injections in the stomach were bloody painful and the pain in the leg itself was like nothing else I’ve ever experienced
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It sounds pretty horrendous. It has gone very quiet about Figueiredo. I’m surprised we even got the update that we did from MoN the other month about him. It has gone a bit “Matty Fryatt” quiet around him and I also think that he may be really struggling.
posted on 15/3/19
Also think that it is going to be frustrating news over Grabban. An Achilles problem is probably one of the hardest to fix for a field sports player. One of the areas of the body that takes the most strain, along with the knees in my amateur experience.
Ansarifard really needed to show on Wednesday that he has the gumption to have a real go at making it here. He was too tentative IMO and that dive at the Bridgford End was outreageous. I really hope Keane got hold of him after the game and made it very clear that it was completely unacceptable. That type of thing really gets referees backs up and is bound to negatively affect the team. Discipline has been so poor this season and that dive put the tin lid on it for me. I hope MoN and Keane bring back the fines in the envelopes on the player’s clothes hook in the dressing room that Cloughie made great use of. The players from that era hated getting fined. The fines these days would have to be pretty substantial to bother these players, though.
posted on 15/3/19
The way Forest used to carry themselves under Clough was a source of pride for us fans. Don’t argue with refs, etc. I hate the way players crowd the ref and get booked for dissent. It isn’t acceptable at Forest IMO. Leave that sort of behaviour to the likes of Leeds. If you can’t win fairly, then don’t win at all.
posted on 15/3/19
I agree Karim should have been booked as he was but what annoys me is the inconsistency of the referees. Earlier in the match one of theirs went down in the box and was just motioned to get up to his feet, why was that not a booking and yet Karim's was. IMO if a player goes down in the box and it isn't a penalty it should be an automatic booking.
posted on 15/3/19
That was Tammy Abrahams, went down as though he'd taken a blow to the head, where as the replay showed that Benny-the-loon had just shoulder checked him.
Must have been an instruction from the manager though , once they had gone ahead they were doing it all the time. That amount of gamesmanship sticks in the throat: was the third goal handball, I never saw a replay?
posted on 15/3/19
Just hope Grabban doesn’t suffer the way Fatty Fryup did with his Achilles, it eventually ended his playing career, great shame as he had lots left and was a decent forward when fit. Certainly wouldn’t consider Grabban for Ipswich, give as much rest as possible.
posted on 15/3/19
comment by Red Forest Bear ( Bear Knows) (U6288)
posted 9 hours, 56 minutes ago
That was Tammy Abrahams, went down as though he'd taken a blow to the head, where as the replay showed that Benny-the-loon had just shoulder checked him.
Must have been an instruction from the manager though , once they had gone ahead they were doing it all the time. That amount of gamesmanship sticks in the throat: was the third goal handball, I never saw a replay?
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A Villa fan at work dismissed the claims of over acting as sour grapes. Billy Davies would have been proud if some of the lengths they went to disrupting the flow of the game. It was certainly well rehearsed. You must have to hope karma is a b...
posted on 15/3/19
comment by reddave (U8660)
posted about 8 hours ago
Just hope Grabban doesn’t suffer the way Fatty Fryup did with his Achilles, it eventually ended his playing career, great shame as he had lots left and was a decent forward when fit. Certainly wouldn’t consider Grabban for Ipswich, give as much rest as possible.
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Early team news suggests Grabban won’t be fit. I really rated Fryatt and was really pleased when he eventually signed for Forest as he had been tracked ever since his Walsall days. Such a shame for him and Forest as I reckon he could have been a great foil for the Assombalonga and Antonio front line.