Meet the opposition | Nottingham Forest
As Swansea City get set to host Nottingham Forest in the Championship, we take a closer look at the history and fortunes of the Reds.
What's the story?
Nottingham Forest are currently contesting their 13th 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 seasons 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 seventh last season, as they missed out to the Swans in a dramatic play-off race.
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?
On the up. Forest had a miserable start to the season and even a change of manager did not lift them from a slump that had started at the tail-end of last season.
But they have found some solid form over the last couple of months, losing just one of their last 11 league fixtures.
Prior to that they had been on a run of seven games without win, but things are starting to look up.
Who's the boss?
Chris Hughton. The former Tottenham, West Ham and Republic of Ireland full-back returned to management for the first time since leaving Brighton when he was appointed at the City Ground.
A highly-respected coach, Hughton spent 14 years on the coaching staff at Tottenham, before taking up a similar role at Newcastle.
He got his first full appointment on Tyneside and led them back to the Premier League in 2010, and was very unfortunate to lose his job in December of that year.
Spells with Birmingham, Norwich and Brighton followed, with Hughton earning promotion to the top-flight for the second time in his managerial career with the Seagulls.
Who’s the captain?
Lewis Grabban. Lamouchi initially named four captains for the season, with Grabban, Michael Dawson, Samba Sow and Joe Worrall the quartet selected.
Hughton has not ripped up that template, but it has been Grabban who had been wearing the armband on the pitch when fit.
Experienced striker Grabban, 32, has long been a reliable goalscorer and he is well-travelled having had spells with Crystal Palace, Oldham, Motherwell, Brentford, Rotherham, Bournemouth, Norwich, Reading, Sunderland and Aston Villa before joining Forest.
He has 39 goals in 100 league appearances for the Reds.
Who are the key men?
January loan signing Glenn Murray has wasted little time making an impact, with two goals from his first three appearances for Forest and his reliable goalscoring record could prove to be a major asset.
Lyle Taylor was a high-profile off-season acquisition as the striker arrived from Charlton, and has five goals to his name, but has been on the bench recently.
While Matty Cash departed last summer they retained the excellent Joe Worrall, who has provided them with a big boost since returning from injury at the back.
Forest also brought in the creativity of Anthony Knockaert from Fulham on loan, while Alex Mighten and Sammy Ameobi provide pace and trickery,
