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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Tom Leach

How Nottingham Forest's best XI has changed since the season started

Nottingham Forest's starting XI has changed drastically since the season opener at Bristol City in August.

Only four Forest stars who started in Saturday's win over Swansea City were present during the Reds' 1-1 draw with the Robins back in August.

The obvious change has come in the dugout, with Aitor Karanka embarking on his quest to lead Forest to the Premier League that day.

Since then, Martin O'Neill has taken charge and has made changes to the team.

The Portuguese triple threat of Gil Dias, Joao Carvalho and Diogo Goncalves started on the opening day, but none of them were in the starting line-up against the Swans, Carvalho coming off the subs' bench.

Martin O'Neill has a message for booing Nottingham Forest fans  

Nottingham Forest's Michael Dawson and Gil Dias warm up together (Dan Westwell)

Joe Lolley was on the subs' bench against Bristol City, which seems remarkable now given he has arguably been the Reds' best player this season.

O'Neill's defensive signings have all made their impact on the starting XI since arriving at the City Ground, with Molla Wague and Yohan Benalouane starting in central defence against Swansea, while the centre-back pairing on the opening day of the campaign was Michael Dawson and Danny Fox.

Nottingham Forest's Molla Wague celebrates with Yohan Benalouane (Dan Westwell)

Costel Pantilimon, Tendayi Darikwa, Ben Osborn and Ben Watson are the only four players who started on the opening day of the season, and also started against Swansea.

There is no more room for inconsistency says Joe Lolley as Nottingham Forest look to hit momentum at the perfect moment  

Forest XI v Bristol City (04/08/2018): Pantilimon, Darikwa, Dawson, Fox, Osborn, Watson, Guedioura, Dias, Carvalho, Goncalves, Murphy.

Forest XI v Swansea City (30/03/2019): Pantilimon, Darikwa, Wague, Benalouane, Osborn, Colback, Watson, Yates, Lolley, Grabban, Cash.

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