Sunday 5th February 2:00pm | City Ground
A rejuvenated Nottingham Forest host Leeds United on Sunday lunchtime, hoping to extend their impressive run of late, which includes three wins and two draws from their last six games. Spending big this season is finally paying off for Steve Cooper, whose 29 new signings (this season) have helped lift them above Leeds to 13th place, three points above the Whites.
If there ever was a time a club needed three points, this is it. Leeds are just a palce above the drop zone, level on points with Everton in 18th. With Leeds facing Manchester Utd both home and away after the trip to the City Ground, it could be a difficult week points wise. Leeds haven’t won any of their last 12 top-flight league meetings away at Forest, though to be fair, this is the first time they have met for 24 years (in the Premier League).
Forests blatant disregard towards FFP continued into the New Year with the arrivals of Danilo and Gustavo Scarpa, (both from Palmeiras), Chris Wood and Jonjo Shelvey (from Newcastle), André Ayew (Al Sadd) Navas, (PSG) and Felipe (Atletico Madrid). Chris Wood is ruled out with flu, though the other six are available for Sunday. Taiwo Awoniyi (groin), Omar Richards (calf), Morgan Gibbs-White (ankle), Giulian Biancone (knee), Ryan Yates (illness), Cheikhou Kouyate (thigh), Dean Henderson (thigh) and Moussa Niakhate (thigh) also miss out for the hosts.
Leeds will be without leading goal scorer Rodrigo, who underwent surgery on his ankle, ruling him out until at least April. Fit again Patrick Bamford will start as his replacement, alongside record signing Gnonto and Sinisterra. Robin Koch serves a one match ban for picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Brentford last month. I Having played 19 League games now, Roca and Kristensen (both on four bookings) are safe. The next caveat is a two match ban for any player who receives 10 bookings by Leeds 32nd game.
In Koch's absence, Liam Cooper will play alongside Max Wober. Coops had been carrying a knock, and only returned to training on Thursday morning. He and Wober. are both left footed, but would be the strongest centre back pairing by far. Marsch had to decide whether to stick with Firpo at left back, or bring back Pascal Struijk. Firpo started the Cup game at the Wham Stadium (and scored) but it is Struijk who gets the nod.
Tyler Adams was also carrying a knock, but will play. New boy Weston McKennie makes the bench. We're hoping for great things from him, and can't wait to see him and Adams start to dominate the midfield.
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