Meet the opposition | Nottingham Forest
As Swansea City prepare to face off with Nottingham Forest, we take a closer look at the club from the East Midlands.
What’s their story?
Nottingham Forest are currently contesting their 12th successive season in the Championship.
The club has a rich history, winning the First Division title in 1977-78 under manager Brian Clough, who also led Forest to memorable European Cup triumphs in successive seasons.
The club has not featured in the Premier League since relegation in 1999 and have spent all bar three of the intervening series in the second tier.
The closest they have come to a top-flight return was in 2011, falling just short as the Swans beat them in the Championship play-offs. Their best finish since was eighth in 2013.
They have a stacked trophy cabinet, with four League Cups and two FA Cups to their name in addition to those famous league and European triumphs.
How’s their form?
Solid. Forest have lost just one of their six games since the resumption of the season, winning two and drawing the other three.
They are fifth in the table, with a cushion to the sides below them as they look to secure a play-off spot.
On home turf they have suffered seven defeats, including their most recent game at the City Ground against Fulham.
Who’s the boss?
Sabri Lamouchi. The Frenchman took over at the City Ground in the summer following the departure of Martin O’Neill and has enjoyed an excellent first season.
He won 12 caps for France during his playing career, making the squad for Euro 96 but being cut from the final squad for Les Bleus’ World Cup success two years later.
The midfielder featured for the likes of Auxerre, Monaco, Parma, Inter Milan and Marseille during a 19-year playing career, before moving into management in 2012, when he took over as Ivory Coast boss.
He guided them to the 2014 World Cup, but left his post following their group-stage exit.
He moved on to Qatari club El Jaish, but returned to Europe with Rennes in 2017, and he went on to lead them to fifth place and Europa League qualification in Ligue 1.
He left them in December 2018, before sealing his move to English football with Forest, where he has recently signed a contract extension.
Who are the key men?
Lewis Grabban has further enhanced his reputation as one of the Championship’s leading marksman with 20 goals so far this term.
Joe Lolley has provided 10 goals from the wing and has enjoyed an excellent season, has as Matty Cash following Lamouchi’s decision to convert him into a right-back.
Defender Joe Worrall has had a fine campaign in defence, while former Cardiff winger Sammy Ameobi has made a real impact since his arrival last summer and has the most assists in the Reds squad, with eight to his name.
