Crewe Alexandra VS Nottingham Forest Saturday 20th Aug 3:00pm |
MATCH DAY |
Forest relegated in 2001-2002, well sort off. A 2-2 draw meant we were needing to pull back a 18 goal difference to stay up. It was a match we went missing for the first half and 2-0 down at half time meant we were 45 minutes away from relegation but Rodney Jack and Rob Hulse pulled the score back level and despite bombarding the Forest area with cross' there was no winner and we were just given one extra match as a Division One club. After a season apart we're back and wanting revenge. Forest, though, have improved quite abit since though. Last season saw them unexpectedly mount a serious promotion challenge. Despite an excellent finish bad late form cost them and they finished 5th. In the play offs they faced the nearly men of Sheff Utd. After tying the first leg of the play-offs they went to Bramall Lane and when they went 2-0 up on the 57th minute it looked all over but Sheff Utd never say die. Brown and Kabba brought in back level in 7 minutes. Forest now back stronger are looking for a top two place to avoid that agony again. Improving their squad with impressive loan signings like Michael Stewart from Man Utd and Stephen McPhail they're a team who have the quality to do anything in this division. Forest, like us, like to look at the kids, maybe us more so, before spending money. Players like Marlon Harewood, Michael Dawson and Gareth Williams with past players like David Prutton of Southampton, Teddy Sheringham of Portsmouth &Jermaine Jenas of Newcastle. But Forest have seen some bargains in their time before selling them on like Roy Keane, Stan Collymore, Stuart Pearce(Who Dario wanted to sign as a kid if he had the money at the time) & Steve Stone. When Nottm Forest were winning two European Cups in 2 years we were finishing in the bottom five of Division 4, for Forest or Crewe fans thinking they'd be playing each other in 15 years was probably quite laughable but here we are. Back then it was Brian Clough who turned Forest around right now it's Paul Hart who's turning them around. After former Crewe midfielder David Platt left after an unsuccessful spell as manager Paul Hart was promoted from within the club. The clubs finances were in a dire state and Forest were only just managing to avoid a relegation scrap. Hart though has done a great job in sorting out the finances by selling youngsters but at the same time managed to keep a good squad together. On Saturday Forest will be missing top scorer David Johnson. Johnson scored a brace for Forest last time they visited Gresty Road in a season where after a £3million move from Ipswich he only managed 10 goals in 30 odd games. Last season he more than made up for it with 29 goals and at one staged scored 13 goals in 10 games. However this season he will be out till the new year after breaking his leg over last weekend. His striking partner will start with Marlon Harewood on 7 goals on 6 games. Forest are looking for their 5th victory on the trot and a chance to go top. Hart will probably stick with the team that got the previous 12 points : Ward ,Louis-Jean ,Dawson ,Thompson ,Morgan ,Sonner ,Williams ,McPhail ,Reid ,Johnson ,Harewood. On the bench they have new signing Gareth Taylor, who signed from Burnley earlier in the season, and Man Utd loanee Michael Stewart. For Crewe. David Vaughan is still battling to to be fit but should make it into. The Welsh international will replaced Rix on the left wing in order to give Rix a rest. This means Tonkin gets another start at left back. Adie Moses could still make the bench after returning to training after a hamstring injury. Probable 11 - Ince, Wright, Walker, Foster, Tonkin, Lunt, Brammer, Cochrane, Vaughan, Ashton, Jones. COME ON!!! |
ONE TO WATCH |
Michael Dawson was just 19 when he trained with the full England squad. Rated so highly amongst Forest and England U-21s staff that hegot to spend a few days under the control of Sven. Now a regular in the England U-21s the centeral defender is tipped for many great things. Dawson was sent off in the 1st leg of their play-offs last season and will feel he's let them down - he'll want to make up for it. |
HEAD TO HEAD |
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CREWEALEX.COM PREDICTION |
Crewe Alex 2-1 Nottm Forest post your prediction on beat the manager |
DIVISION ONE TABLE |
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ALSO PLAYING |
20 September 2003 |
INTERESTING LINKS |