Shut up shop and grow into the game was the theme of Nottingham Forest fans’ comments after Sabri Lamouchi revealed his starting XI to face arch-rivals Derby County at Pride Park.
In leaving out Wednesday night’s matchwinner Tiago Silva, Lamouchi drafted back in the influential Samba Sow to play alongside Ben Watson and Ryan Yates in the centre of the park, clearly a tactic to try and limit the influence of Wayne Rooney.
Elsewhere, Sammy Ameobi, like Silva, was dropped to the bench with Nuno Da Costa handed a start as part of what looked to be an attacking three, with him and Joe Lolley playing either side of 19-goal Lewis Grabban.
While one or two fans were slightly concerned about Lamouchi’s tactics, the overwhelming majority on social media were behind the Frenchman’s plan to stifle the in-form Rams before unleashing some of their attacking prowess off the bench in the second half.
Both teams come into the game in great form, especially Derby, who have won their last five to move within a point of the top six, while Forest have returned from the Covid-19 break unbeaten, drawing at Sheffield Wednesday before seeing off Huddersfield and Bristol City.
Here’s what fans have been saying pre-kick-off…
