We preview Nottingham Forest’s Football League Championship clash with Birmingham City by examining the home side’s potential starting line-up.
Nottingham Forest manager Philippe Montanier has much to ponder
Ahead of this Friday night’s Championship encounter the big question that Nottingham Forest supporters will want answering is whether manager Philippe Montanier will continue with a lone striker or chance a move to a more forward thinking 4-4-2.
Nottingham Forest’s Aspostolos Vellios is in fine goal scoring form
Greek international forward Apostolos Vellios has four goals in five league starts, with a scoring rate of a goal every 167 minutes so far this season. This encouraging form from the former Everton man could mean that Nicklas Bendtner continues to start from the bench – unless Montanier decides on a move to two forwards in an attempt to halt Forest’s poor league form, which sees them winless in their last six.
Nicklas Bendtner may find himself starting from the bench
Birmingham City, on the other hand, are enjoying a positive run of form and have not lost in their last six league games. This places Gary Rowett’s side in sixth position, just five points off Huddersfield Town in top spot. Rowett will be boosted by the expected return of forward Clayton Donaldson to the side and could also see former Nottingham Forest midfielder Robert Tesche return from an ankle injury.
For Nottingham Forest, injured duo Daniel Pinillos and Britt Assombalonga have returned to training this week but will not be considered for the clash with Birmingham City – meaning that Danny Fox is expected to start at left-back in Pinillos’ continued absence. It may ultimately prove to be the instability in Forest’s defence – where they have conceded 22 goals in 11 games and have the second worst defensive record in the Championship – that sways Montanier to retain the more compact 4-2-3-1 system.
The Forest manager, who will be serving the first of a two-game touchline ban in this fixture, could place his trust in a midfield shield of David Vaughan and Pajtim Kasami in front of the returning Michael Mancienne and Damien Perquis. American Eric Lichaj looks set to complete the defensive unit at right-back.
Nottingham Forest’s Henri Lansbury will hope to drive his team to victory against Birmingham City
Behind what is expected to be a Vellios led front line, Forest are likely to field a trio of Henri Lansbury through the centre, Ben Osborn on the left and Hildeberto Pereira on the right hand side of attack.
Nottingham Forest predicted line-up (4-2-3-1): Stojkovic, Lichaj, Mancienne, Perquis, Fox, Kasami, Vaughan, Pereira, Lansbury, Osborn, Vellios.
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