Next up in our Championship 2020/21 season previews, we head to the City Ground and take a look at Nottingham Forest.
Nottingham Forest
Stadium: The City Ground
Capacity: 30,446
Year Formed: 1865
Nickname: Forest
Most Appearances: Bob McKinlay, 685.
Most Goals: Grenville Morris, 217.
Record League win: 14-0 v Clapton – 17th January 1891.
Record defeat: 1-9 v Blackburn Rovers – 10th April 1937.
Last Five Years
2019/20: 7th in Championship – 70 points
2018/19: 9th in Championship – 66 points
2017/18: 17th in Championship – 53 points
2016/17: 21st in Championship – 51 points
2015/16: 16th in Championship – 55 points
Manager – Sabri Lamouchi:
With over 500 career appearances under his belt as a midfielder and 12 international caps for France, Sabri Lamouchi has enjoyed a successful career as player and manager.
Lamouchi spent ten years in France beginning his career at Ales for four years, departing in 1994 and moving to Auxerre and then Monaco, before travelling to Italy and Serie A with Parma, Inter Milan and Genoa.
In 2005 Lamouchi returned to France with Marseille, before ending his career playing for sides Al Rayyan, Umm-Salal and Al-Kharitiyath.
His first job in management came three years after his retirement as a player, taking charge of Ivory Coast.
He then had a spell at El Jaish and Rennes, before taking over as manager of Nottingham Forest in 2019.
Squad:
Forest recently said goodbye to one of their key players during their push for the play-offs last season, as Matty Cash departed for Premier League side Aston Villa.
Tyler Walker also left the City Ground as he joined the Sky Blues last week on a permanent deal, scoring on his debut against MK Dons.
However, elsewhere Forest have added to their squad with the likes of Lyle Taylor arriving from Charlton, Tyler Blackett from Reading and Jack Colback returning from Newcastle United.
After slipping out of the play-off places on the final day of the Championship season, Forest will be hoping to go one better this year.
Connections:
There have been some familiar faces to have represented the two sides over the years, with the most recent addition to that list being Tyler Walker.
However, other names have followed the same path as Tyler, with the likes of Stuart Pearce, Marlon King, Ian Wallace, David Phillips and Eoin Jess.
CCFC v Nottingham Forest Head-to-Head:
Won – 19, Drew – 28, Lost – 45
Last Time We Met – Nottingham Forest 2-0 Coventry City, 18th February 2012, Championship.
The Sky Blues fell to defeat last time out against Nottingham Forest over eight years ago, when two late goals scored by Gareth McCleary and Robbie Findley secured the points for the hosts.
Team: Joe Murphy, Cyrus Christie, Jordan Clarke, Richard Keogh, Martin Cranie, Carl Baker (77’ Bell), Gary Deegan (Eastwood 89’), Oliver Norwood, Gary McSheffrey, Alex Nimley, Clive Platt.
Subs: Chris Dunn, Jordan Willis, Conor Thomas.
Fact:
The Forest Football Club originally emerged from a group of “shinney” players who played a then popular game very similar to hockey.
They were created in 1865 at a special meeting at the Clinton Arms Hotel, Sherwood Street.
Since their first appearances were made at the Forest Recreation Ground their chosen name was synonymous with the location.