After only a second defeat of the season, it seems likely Nottingham Forest head coach Sabri Lamouchi will ring the changes tomorrow night.
The Reds host Hull City in the first of successive home games this week, looking to bounce back from Sunday’s 1-0 reverse at Wigan Athletic.
And while Lamouchi stood by his team selection at the DW Stadium - a starting XI which included five changes - it would be a surprise if his line-up didn’t have a different look about it against the Tigers, as well as a different formation.
It was a considerably below par performance from the visitors against the Latics, though they did improve in the second half, with Lewis Grabban and Tiago Silva making a difference from off the bench.
Here’s how we think Forest will look at the City Ground.
Goalkeeper
Brice Samba. No question marks here. The 25-year-old wasn’t able to keep a clean-sheet at the weekend, but he did make some good saves.
Defence
There might be a couple of decisions for Lamouchi to make here.
Matty Cash had a very good game at Wigan and will keep his place tomorrow night.
Expect Joe Worrall to retain his spot, too. But might there be a change alongside him at centre-back?
Tobias Figueiredo came into the side on Sunday. Although he generally did okay, the Portuguese perhaps could have done better in the build-up to the hosts’ goal.
Chema had started the previous game, before the international break, when the Reds kept a clean-sheet in victory over Brentford. It could be that he reclaims his place.
Jack Robinson also didn’t have the best of games at the DW, so the manager may well drop Yuri Ribeiro back into the left-back spot - particularly as Forest will look to put Hull under pressure at home.
Midfield
Ben Watson is a certainty. Who plays alongside him in the centre though, is likely to change.
John Bostock got his chance at the weekend but looked rusty - no surprise given his lack of game time. He was hooked early in the second half, with Silva looking very comfortable in a deeper role.
The Portuguese seems odds on to start tomorrow night, though if Lamouchi feels Ryan Yates is fit enough, he could also be an option.
Attack
If Ribeiro drops back into the defence, club record signing Joao Carvalho could then come into the XI, having been brought on as a substitute at Wigan.
Sammy Ameobi played a more central role at the weekend, as Lamouchi started with a 4-4-2 system. That’s unlikely to be the case tomorrow.
And it could be that the manager opts to bring in Albert Adomah to mix things up after the disappointment against the Latics.
Striker
Think it’s safe to assume Grabban will be the Reds’ front man.
Rafa Mir missed some good chances on his first Championship start, and Lamouchi explained he had plumped for the Wolves loanee with a view to resting Grabban for the two home games on the horizon.
Predicted Forest XI: Samba, Cash, Worrall, Chema, Ribeiro, Watson, Silva, Lolley, Carvalho, Adomah, Grabban.
