Burnley vs Nottingham Forest Preview: Team News & Prediction
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This is a really intriguing contest because a defeat for the visitors could, quite remarkably, lead to their new manager coming under almost immediate pressure.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – Peacock
Burnley preview: Solid Clarets
Scott Parker is a manager that has been able to get teams to buy into a very humble approach, to put it politely, and it is likely going to be their only real effective way of securing survival this season – but winning games like this will be crucial.
They lost to Tottenham Hotspur and then defeated Sunderland before suffering from second-half stoppage-time winning penalties against both Manchester United and Liverpool after performances in which they had been supremely resolute.
Nottingham Forest preview: Tricky Trees
Despite their best season in over 30 years, Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked three matches into this season due to off-field arguments and he has been replaced by Ange Postecoglou, who led Tottenham to a 17th-placed finish in the Premier League last year.
Postecoglou’s reign at the City Ground began with a 3-0 loss against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last weekend before then suffering a 3-2 defeat to Championship side Swansea City in the third round of the EFL Cup in midweek, having been 2-0 up.
Burnley team news: Ugochukwu suspended
In his pre-match press conference, Scott Parker has confirmed that the hosts have no fresh injury concerns for this one. However, they are without midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu, who was sent off last weekend and is now missing through suspension.
Defensive duo Jordan Beyer and Connor Roberts have returned to grass but are still unavailable, whilst Jacob Bruun Larsen has returned to training. Zeki Amdouni remains sidelined.
Predicted XI (4-5-1): Dubravka; Walker, Ekdal, Esteve, Hartman; Tchaouna, Mejbri, Cullen, Luis, Anthony; Foster
Unavailable: Beyer (Fitness), Roberts (Fitness), Ugochukwu (Suspended), Amdouni (Injured)
Questionable: Bruun Larsen (Fitness)
Nottingham Forest team news: Murillo a doubt
Ange Postecoglou is dealing with a few injury concerns, with key Brazilian centre-back Murillo a doubt for the trip to Lancashire after he limped off against Arsenal last week.
They also have a few other absentees, such as Ola Aina and Nicolas Dominguez, but Oleksandr Zinchenko is available, having been ineligible to face parent club Arsenal last weekend.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sels; Williams, Milenkovic, Morato, Zinchenko; Anderson, Gibbs-White; Ndoye, McAtee, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Unavailable: Aina (Injured), Dominguez (Injured)
Questionable: Murillo (Injured)
Burnley vs Nottingham Forest prediction
Typically, Postecoglou has been abrasive and brash in pre-match press conferences and he has discussed how this isn’t a project and the fact he has also won trophies in his first season. Well, one of those trophies on offer has now gone. He has discussed wanting to impose his principles with immediate effect. That is unusual because his principles led to a humiliating domestic season for Spurs last year, whilst his predecessor’s principles led Forest to a major overachievement – and it wouldn’t be a shock of Forest players aren’t too keen on his rhetoric. Burnley, with home advantage and their extremely rigid defence will make things difficult for a team seeking immediate attacking fluency and flair. As a result, siding with the Clarets seems a reasonable bet.
Burnley vs Nottingham Forest tip: Burnley to win & under 3.5 goals
