Norwich Vs Nottingham Forest
Norwich to take the points at Carrow Road
TEAM NEWS
Norwich midfielder Wes Hoolahan is a doubt after missing the last two games with a hamstring strain. If he doesn’t recover in time, Korey Smith could take his place. Chris Martin could make the bench after missing the last two months, also with a hamstring problem. Dani Pacheco has played in place of the injured striker in recent games, while Simeon Jackson, who was a substitute in midweek, is another forward option. Leon Barnett and Aaron Wilbraham are both out with longer-term problems.
Nottingham Forest are still without midfielder Chris Cohen, who will serve the final game of his three-match ban. Defender Joel Lynch came off early in last weekend’s match with Reading after sustaining a thigh strain, and will be assessed in midweek, as will Paul Anderson, who has bruised ribs. But although a handful players are still out with lingering injuries, manager Billy Davies has been able to welcome back some key players in recent games, including midfielder Guy Moussi and striker Rob Earnshaw, while midfielder and captain Paul McKenna may also be back in the line-up this weekend after missing out over the last fortnight due to a groin strain.
Norwich
Suspended: None
Doubtful: Chris Martin (hamstring), Wes Hoolahan (hamstring)
Injured/unavailable: Leon Barnett (hamstring), Aaron Wilbraham (back)
Nottingham Forest
Suspended: Chris Cohen
Doubtful: Joel Lynch (thigh), Paul McKenna (groin), Paul Anderson (ribs)
Injured/unavailable: Dexter Blackstock (cruciate ligament), Robbie Findley (thigh), Kelvin Wilson (shin)
MATCH PREVIEW
Norwich suffered a body blow at Swansea last weekend, losing 3-0 and seeing their advantage in second reduced to just a point. They didn’t play badly despite the loss, conceding two spectacular strikes and then a third at the death as they pressed hard to get back into the game. Manager Paul Lambert was pleased with his side’s efforts, and on another day they would have converted some of those chances. They came back in midweek with a 2-2 draw at Watford, but were overtaken in the league by Cardiff, and will be looking for a win back on home turf today.
Forest are seeing all their hard work going to waste at the moment, with just four points from their last nine games ahead of the midweek win over Burnley. Everything seems to be going wrong for them at the moment, a tendency which was encapsulated by their 4-3 loss at home to Reading last weekend. They led 2-1 before going behind, then equalised in the 88th minute, but conceded again in the 90th. They’re still playing reasonably well, and manager Billy Davies tried to sound bullish after the loss, but they desperately needed the win over Burnley, which came courtesy of two goals from David McGoldrick. Both sides need this win, but Norwich should edge it.
HEAD TO HEAD
The reverse fixture earlier this season finished 1-1, the 16th league draw between these sides. Forest have won three more than Norwich – 24 compared with 21.
