Nottingham Forest and Steve Cooper face another massive clash in their race for Premier League survival as they travel to Villa park to take on Unai Emery’s in form Aston Villa side in a midlands derby.
Having lost in midweek to fellow relegation scrappers Leeds United, Cooper’s side sit 17th, only above the relegation zone on goal difference with nine games left to play.
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis publicly supported Cooper following the defeat, but accepted that “results and performances must improve immediately”, starting with a trip to one of the most in-form sides in the division.
Read on for the latest team news from the City ground and how we expect Cooper to set his side out.
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Predicted XI
Team News
Steve Cooper didn’t sound too hopeful about getting many more injured players back between the defeat to Leeds and this clash when speaking ahead of the game.
“Taiwo [Awoniyi] and Cheikhou [Kouyate] got some important minutes so they’re getting closer after being out for a long time.
“The rest of it is as it was really. Some players are coming back, but in regards to Saturday, other than one or two picking up some stuff on Tuesday night, it’s as we were.”
One man who may be a casualty from the defeat at Elland Road is Emmanuel Dennis.
‘Emmanuel came off the other night, and it’s something we’re going to look at in regard to Saturday’, the Forest boss told the media, who is also sweating on the fitness of Ryan Yates, Jesse Lingard and Serge Aurier.
However, all of Chris Wood, Omar Richards, Gianluca Biancone and Wily Boly are certain to miss out through various injuries.
