Preview: WHUFC vs Forest - Beware of Tree Spikes

If you go down to the woods tonight, you might be in for a big surprise...Then, again, perhaps not.

If you speak to a forest fan right now, there is a lot of negativity flying around; the contrast between between now and the quiet confidence that McLaren's appointment brought last summer is stark.  Players are getting stick, and the fans have given up hoping for a win.  And, ostensibly, it's hard to disagree with them.  With Steve Cotterill's Forest languishing firmly in the relegation zone, some two points off safety after shipping seven goals in their last two matches without response, it's easy to see why many fans are seriously concerned about relegation.  Five home losses in a row don't help either, nor does not scoring at home since November 19th. 

But digging deeper, there are some mitigating factors that perhaps have conspired to make Forest seem worse than they are.  Firstly, having a player wrongly sent off (IMHO) in their last league fixture at home to Southampton for almost the entire second half didn't help matters.  And despite all the reports, I watched the match and felt that Forest were certainly giving as good as they were getting for the first half.  Southampton didn't look head and shoulders better, and their first goal, honestly was scrappy.  But the Luke Chambers sending off at 50 minutes ensured that the game was over as a competitive match.  It allowed Southampton the space to get in behind them, and they made Forest pay.

But away to Leicester in the Cup - well, there's no sugar coating it - Forest were awful.  They missed two guilt edged chances before half time. 

Despite this, Forest fans will rightly tell you that their away form in the league is slightly better, but not much.  With only 4 away wins out of 12, and only one of those this year against Ipswich, the previous one being in October, it would be easy to right off their chances of a win.  Furthermore, to darken the cloud over Forest, four key players are missing: Chambers is suspended, and Wes Morgan, Chris Cohen and Ishmael Miller are missing through injury.  Then there's Matt Derbyshire's twitter outburst that has probably ensured that he won't be high on Steve Cotterill's team sheet...

Ouch.  Is there any light for the trees?  Yes.  Marlon Harewood, after a 6 month spell playing in China (not bad pay, apparently - just ask Drogba...), he has signed on for a short loan spell with Forest.  And while he's still working on his sharpness, he will bring an added dimension to Forest's attack on Saturday.  No doubt he will be determined to prove a point back at the club where he was leading scorer a few years back.  So there's hope for the Forest fans?

Perhaps.  Last time we played a bottom of the league team, Bristol City, we were frustrated for 90 minutes.  If you're Steve Cotterill how are you going to set up? That's right: 10 men behind the ball with Harewood ready to pounce.  And with West Ham's inability to score more than one - perhaps - two goals per game, a draw is quite possible because although it seems that when Forest go down a goal, it's over, we should remember that, lately, when West Ham go up a goal, we sit on the lead and entertain capitulation in the final few minutes.  Furthermore, every time we've had the chance to go top, West Ham have blown it.  And this weekend, by dint of Southampton's fixture being played on Monday, we have that chance again. 

But, in fairness to the Hammers, a loss or a draw is not likely, particularly because, with no fresh injury worries, it looks like Big Sam will have nearly a full squad to pick from.  Guy Demel and Matty Taylor are both now in full training, though it doesn't sound like they're quite ready to start a game yet.  George John will likely be a few weeks from serious availability, although a bench seat soon is likely.  I see Diop as a great away player, or when we need to hold a lead.  Reid has done well as late, despite Faye's previous good form, so I'd keep him in.  When Taylor is fully fit he is in, no ifs, ands, or buts: we need his creativity and, above all, his set piece expertise.  And Demel too, if he can stay fit would have place as right back in my side.  O'Brien needs a rest.  And while I'm sure Sam will not go with my team tomorrow, but this is what I'd pick, based on the opposition and our need for goals.  It's time to change it up, we've become too predictable and constipated.  Yes, Nolan is in the line up: he's our best Captain in eons and joint top scorer...before the whining starts. :-) 

Green

O’Brien-Tomkins-Reid-McCartney

Noble-----Nolan

Lansbury---------------------Collison

          Baldock

Cole

Subs: (No GK) Faye, Faubert, Taylor, Nouble, Hall

This five subs is really annoying!  I'd have Demel and John in there if I was sure they were fit. 

With all due respect to Forest, who are, and always will be, a big team with a rich history, West Ham have the chance to go top tomorrow and score some goals.  Let's hope they do it, and make us all wonder why we're in the market for a striker.

Paul