Time is running out for Sabri Lamouchi to turn the tide and finally kick start the Reds’ 2020/21 campaign. Saturday’s game against ‘in form’ Bristol City could well be the Head Coach’s last – should it go the same way as Forest’s three previous league encounters.
With new faces aplenty, Lamouchi made seven changes last week in the 1-0 defeat at the hands of Huddersfield Town. A move which did appear to be the Frenchman’s last throw of the dice. Albeit another defeat, there did seem to be slightly more positive reports on the Reds’ performance but it still wasn’t enough and now it does seem nothing short of three points will be enough to save Sabri Lamouchi’s job.
It does seem the task could not be any harder too – as in form Bristol City travel to the City Ground. The side, under the stewardship of their new Head Coach Dean Holden, have won all three of their opening league games.
A tough prospect is in store for Forest and just as at Huddersfield, they’ll continue to be without Joe Worrall and Fouad Bachirou (both with injuries expected to keep them out until after the international break) and Lamouchi has also confirmed his side will not be able to call upon the services of Tiago Silva. The Portuguese play maker is on the cusp of a move to Forest’s sister club, Olympiakos.
One last throw of the dice did seem the order of the day, when the teams were announced an hour before kick off at Huddersfield but it’s hard to see another 7 changes being made this time. Lamouchi needs a good, solid performance as well as a win. Chucking in a load of new faces to play together for the first time isn’t likely to end well.
One potential debut could be new left back, Nicholas Ioannou. The Cypriot arrived the day of the Huddersfield game and has had a week of training with the first team squad. Jordan Gabriel a player who started the season at right back however has been loaned to Blackpool on a season long deal.
Last season, Saturday’s visitors were faced with a conundrum: Stick or twist with their popular manager Lee Johnson after a run of poor results?
They decided to twist and now seem to be reaping the rewards of their bravery to part ways with a steady, competent, Championship manager.
Perhaps the time has come for the hierarchy at Nottingham Forest to make that gamble themselves, after all it can’t get any worse than what we’re seeing at the minute, can it?
*Article provided by Joe Freeman (Nottingham Forest Correspondent).
*Main image @NFFC Manager Sabri Lamouchi still waiting for a first win, point and goal this season.
