Joe Lolley was on the periphery as Martin O’Neill’s Nottingham Forest lost 2-0 away at Stoke City in Saturday’s Championship clash.
Stoke City defender Bruno Martins Indi admits that Nathan Jones’ side made specific plans to neutralise Nottingham Forest danger man Joe Lolley on Saturday, while speaking to the Stoke Sentinal.
Forest’s play-off hopes suffered a major blow as they went down 2-0 at the Bet 365 Stadium at the weekend, with goals from Benik Afobe and Oghenekaro Etebo sealing a valuable win for Jones’ side.
Lolley, who has scored seven goals and produced eight assists in the Championship this season, was far from his best, unable to exert his usual influence on proceedings.
This had plenty to do with the fact that Martins Indi, a centre-half by trade, was shifted across to left-back in order to keep Lolley quiet – a plan he has now explained to the Stoke Sentinal.
“He’s a very good player and he didn’t score and didn’t get an assist,” said the 27-year-old Dutch international.
“We knew we couldn’t let him get inside so it comes down to body positions, knowing when to go, when not to go, and reading the game. We all read the game well and at the right time, we stepped in, to make him as quiet as possible.”
Forest boss Martin O’Neill will be concerned about how toothless his side looked going forward in the Potteries with Lolley on the periphery throughout.
The former European champions are now ninth in the table, albeit just four points adrift of Bristol City in the final play-off spot.
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