Live @ https://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewLiveArticle/453482
One match ban enabled

Thanks for the thread Mornin, and i agree with your assessment above, especially ‘the bad’. We started ok at Leeds but after scoring in the 12th minute i don’t think we had a shot on target, which is really worrying. After a very unsettling few days it appears that things may now have calmed down a bit, credit to Mr Marinakis for calming the situation, it may not be permanent, but at least it buys some time. There is every likelihood we’ll be in the bottom three at the end of this weekends fixture, as i doubt we’ll get anything from Villa and with Fester playing Muff, one is bound to go above us. I’m starting to look at the rest of this season as a bit of a free hit, with any points gained from now on as a bonus, i seriously doubt we have enough to stay up, saying that there could still be three worse teams than us. Only time will tell. The irony is we may be relegated in London on the same weekend we were promoted, almost exactly a year later. The Villa game will be another stern test, they are flying at the moment and must be full of confidence, we managed a point at ours and I’d be delighted to get the same at theirs. It would be a massive boost to get Yates back, as he seems to make us tick, Lingard i think has probably played his last game in the Garibaldi, and Williams may also be taken out of the firing line. I’ve not heard anything about Aurier all week, which is probably a good sign. We need more fire powered up front, Dennis may well be missing, so not sure what SC will do there, maybe a 4-4-1-1 approach may work, certainly 5 at the back doesn’t look to be working. Henderson appears to be at least a couple of weeks away, and the Navas error costs us the first goal on Tuesday, though to be fair that is pretty much all he did do wrong. I can’t see us getting anything, results wise at Villa, but a strong battling performance would at least give us hope for the home game with Man U, who may well be distracted by Europe when we play them. My guess tomorrow is 3-1 Villa.

Thanks Dave 👍🏻

Our remaining games show a glimmer of hope. The players are still playing for the manager which is also encouraging.

Villa (A) - in form. Hard to see us getting any more than a draw.
Man U (H) - Sevilla either side of playing us. Let’s hope they lose or draw their first leg.
Liverpool (A) - obviously it’s away from home, but they’ve been a mixed bag all season.
Brighton (H) - they play Man U in the FA Cup SF’s on the Sunday, so we have an extra days rest.
Brentford (A) - Toney suspended by then? We always seem to do ok against them.
Southampton (H) - they could almost be relegated by then. Arsenal, Man City and Newcastle in their next five games. Plus Bournemouth and Palace.
Chelsea (A) - who knows how they’ll go under Lampard. Highly unlikely they beat Real Madrid, but if they do, they have a SF leg either side of playing us.
Arsenal (H) - based on Man City’s run in the FA Cup and CL, then Arsenal could be 11 points ahead by the time they play each other. If Arsenal have won the league by then..who knows?!
Palace (A) - if they are safe then a result is doable. Last day relegation decider? Not sure the heart can take it 2 years in a row.

If we don’t take points from the next three I’ll be happy if our performances are strong.

Henderson, McKenna and Yates should be back for the last six. Niakhate, Shelvey and Awoniyi back to full fitness.

Brighton and Southampton at home, Brentford and Palace away. It’s still in our hands to stay up 🤞

Yes thanks for writing a thread during this time of doom & gloom Chile!

The sheep bought the referee in yesterdays game against FGR so this is really turning into a bad season! either that or he doesn't like Duncan Ferguson, he gave the woolies a penalty after 38 seconds!

We don't seem able to keep a clean sheet without Henderson, Aurier & Lodi in the team.

It will go against the grain but Cooper needs to play two banks of five and try to grind out a draw.

Looks like we’re going 3-5-2

Forest: Navas; Williams, Worrall, Felipe, Niakhate, Toffolo; Shelvey, Kouyate, Danilo; Johnson, Gibbs-White. Subs: Hennessey, Mangala, Awoniyi, Lingard, Surridge, Freuler, Dennis, McKenna, Ayew.

————

Wow, Williams keeps his place, Worrall back in, Awoniyi on the bench. Basically a back 5, 3 centres and two wing backs, don’t really see an out ball. I hope this works, its certainly a brave move by SC.

Reasonably happy with the team, but as above difficult to see an out let up top. I’d have started with Surridge or Awoniyi up there.
Only one defender on the bench.
Are we going for 0-0, we can keep a clean sheet with a little bit of luck, and if we persist with a low block hopefully it isn’t as low as it has been in previous away games.

Villa have two keepers on the bench! Could Martinez be carrying an injury? Let’s test him out.

As much as I respect your comments Reddave, please use paragraphs, if you don’t mind. It hurts my eyes. I have eye problems. Thank you.

Kouyate hammy has gone...

We bought too many sicknotes

West Ham and Wolves both winning.

Whilst the shape looks ok, we offer absolutely nothing as an attacking force.

Villa collect the first yellow surprisingly

Shelvey is just a liability surely?

comment by Red Forest Bear [More Salt On That?] (U6288)
posted 2 minutes ago
Shelvey is just a liability surely?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ridiculous tackle. He worries me that at any moment we will ve down to 10

Keep it tight like that for the second and I will take a point!

Having nullified Villa for the first half, if we can do the same in the second, and somehow find a way to stay on side upfront, we may create a decent chance, we may get a point yet.
Still a big ask imo.

comment by Red Forest Bear [More Salt On That?] (U6288)
posted 29 minutes ago
Shelvey is just a liability surely?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You said it.

Stick with it Forest. Just don’t concede another quick one

Can someone tell me what on Earth Shelvey is doing, we always get caught in the first few minutes, 45 minutes wasted. Absolute gift.

Damn. Defensive mistake again and guess who. That man Shelvy

Should be 1:1. Three players ball watching and left the ball

Danilo is playing well again.

Must be time for Awoniyi