Live Match Thread Ipswich vs Nottingham Forest
3pm Saturday 5th March 2016
Venue – Portman Road
I know it’s early but I won’t have time tomorrow morning, so here goes!
After going on an impressive unbeaten run (albeit with a lot of draws), Forest have now lost 3 in a row and need to stop the rot quickly and get to 50 points as soon as possible, or face being dragged into a relegation battle. The play offs are surely out of the equation, but a top 10 finish should be attainable with an upturn in form.
Ipswich have been in and around the play offs but have lost 4 out of the their last 6 league games and have slipped down to 9th. A win is desperately needed to keep up with 6th place.
Last time out was back on Oct 24th 2015, Forest 1 - Ipswich 1, the match report can be found here http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34557207
This game has got “Draw" written all over it as well and I am going for another 1-1
---
Team News – Ipswich
Ipswich could again be without Luke Hyam against Nottingham Forest as the midfielder recovers from a hamstring problem.
Veteran forward Luke Varney scored twice as Town's Under-21 side beat Bristol City 6-1 on Monday, while Larsen Toure was also on target and on-loan
Arsenal midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles got some game time after being a substitute in last Saturday's 1-0 win at Huddersfield.
Cole Skuse is closing in on a return after the midfielder's toe ligament injury.
Midfielder Giles Coke (knee) remains sidelined, along with central defender Piotr Malarczyk, who has had a kidney stone.
Team News – Forest
Forest will be without Jamie Ward as they travel to face Ipswich, with the attacking midfielder/forward sidelined with his hamstring problem.
Ryan Mendes should be fit enough to stake his claim to replace Ward in the starting XI. He will have had another week of training under his belt, following his recent groin problem.
The Cape Verde international made a brief cameo as a substitute in the 2-1 defeat at the hands of Bristol City and should now be closer to full fitness.
He should face competition from teenager Oliver Burke, however, with the flying winger expected to be available after having a special cast made to protect his fractured hand.
Burke has missed two games and his availability will still depend on whether he continues to feel significant discomfort from the injury but Forest hope he will be able to play a part.
Otherwise, Forest's injury problems remain familiar. Henri Lansbury (ankle) and Britt Assombalonga (knee) are expected to return to full training later in the month.
Daniel Pinillos (knee), Andy Reid (groin) and Matty Fryatt (Achilles) will miss the rest of the season.
Key battle: Luke Chambers v Ben Osborn
Former Forest man Luke Chambers remains one of the most consistent performers in the Championship, doing a solid job at right-back for Ipswich.
He will find himself up against another player in reliable form, in Ben Osborn – another man being asked to perform in a position that is not entirely natural to him. The midfielder's displays on the left side have been one of the positives of the season.
Opposition player to watch: Daryl Murphy
The powerful front man took until November to find the net, following his remarkable form last season, which saw him bag 27 goals.
His scoring has not been as frequent this time around, with the Irish international contributing a more modest eight goals since then. But he remains a difficult player to deal with, when he does produce his best.
Live @ http://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewLiveArticle/337436
Live Match Thread Ipswich vs Forest
posted on 5/3/16
I agree Al
but personally I still think it's s huge underachievement by all at the Club this season...and unless there area one drastic changes I don't see too much change next season either
posted on 5/3/16
IF we get out of the embargo and play by the rules; it sounds like our hands are fairly tied again next season. Even if we gamble can you see us doing so wisely?
Don't want to add to this but there's another winding up order in a few days doing the rounds on Twitter
posted on 5/3/16
Either the squad we have is firmly bottom half or we've been under performing. So we're left with either hitting reset manager wise again or need to do more work than some anticipate
posted on 5/3/16
I'll be happier if we get 3 more wins soon to ensure staying up, but on the radio that sounded like a pretty good performance against 12 men.
Back to the first third of the season, playing well and creating chances but losing because we don't take them.
posted on 6/3/16
comment by Forest Al-Florist (U2562)
posted 3 hours, 34 minutes ago
I'd be amazed if the any of the bottom 4 get more points than we have now Will, but even so we're going to get at least 10 more points this season...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If your luck is out though...
posted on 6/3/16
I think fans like me are hoping against hope that next season we carry on defending well, and that Britt comes back better than ever, and that we actually start scoring goals. I would also hope that 1. Oliveira works well with Britt and 2. we can keep him for next season and 3. NO MORE BLOODY INJURIES.
posted on 6/3/16
D.F has already stated that Nelson won't be here next season FAF.
posted on 6/3/16
Yep, think Benfica want him back so DF will have to scout the market for a replacement unless Fryatt makes a Lazarus-esque recovery...
I have enjoyed some of Oliveira's work this season and am grateful he has stepped up for Forest in our hour of need but I won't be massively disappointed when he goes. One of those players who promises more than he delivers, as can be seen in his goalscoring record.
posted on 6/3/16
I'm sure I heard the manager say that there was a possibility of him returning, sometime after he said Oliveira wouldn't be back. Maybe I just imagined it.
I hope we get to see Britt and Oliveira in the same side before the season ends though, I'd really like to see how that works.
posted on 6/3/16
Hopefully Forest will be comfortably mid-table by that point. I would hate for Assombalonga to have to come back into a situation where there is a real pressure for Forest to get results to stave off trouble.