Nottingham Forest (H) Preview

Wanderers’ hectic introduction to England’s second tier concludes with the visit of Nottingham Forest to the Reebok Stadium for Friday night’s televised clash.

Having registered their first points of the season after successfully breaking down a resilient Derby County side on Tuesday evening, Wanderers now know that three points and a large goal swing could see the side top the table heading into the weekend.

Though Sean O’Driscoll and his team will harbour similar aspirations following a promising start to their campaign.

Seemingly built on a watertight rearguard, Forest have shipped just one goal in their three competitive games so far this term.

That came in their most recent outing away at Huddersfield Town, where a last minute Jordan Rhodes penalty salvaged a point for the Terriers. 

Prior to that workmanlike 1-0 victories over Fleetwood Town in the Capital One Cup and Bristol City have the Forest fans quietly confident that their side can significantly improve on last season’s 19th placed finish.

Aside from David Wheater and Stuart Holden, Bolton’s only injury concern continues to be that of striker David Ngog. The Frenchman is expected to absent with a back injury that was aggravated in the pre-season game at Portsmouth.

Spanish defender Daniel Ayala, currently on loan from Norwich City, is Forest’s only doubt. He missed the recent 1-1 draw at Huddersfield with a hip flexor injury.

Wanderers fans will no doubt want to forget the last time they saw Simon Cox in action at the Reebok. The creative and lively frontman came off the bench for former club West Bromwich Albion to set up a last minute equaliser in Bolton’s penultimate game of last season – a 2-2 draw.

O’Driscoll forked out an estimated £2million fee for the Republic of Ireland international, who opened the scoring in Tuesday’s game at Huddersfield in what was his first start for the club.

The two sides last met in a Monday night League Cup tie at the Reebok Stadium back in October 2001. Rod Wallace’s third minute goal was all that separated the two sides.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Richardson, N’Gotty, Diawara (Norris 81), Hendry, Charlton, Nolan, Southall, Hansen, Marshall (Holdsworth 65), Wallace (Ricketts 85) (Unused substitutes: Whitlow, Nishizawa)

Nottingham Forest: Ward, Rogers (Reid 72), Louis-Jean, Scimeca, Hjelde, Bennan, Gray (Bopp 73), Prutton, Bart-Williams, Lester, Johnson (Harewood 72) (Unused substitutes: Roche, Edwards)

Attendance: 6,881

Northampton-based official Dean Whitestone will overseeing Friday’s game. In three games this season he has so far handed out nine yellow and one red card.

Fans are able to purchase and print their match tickets from the comfort of their own home or office. For more information click here.

FanZone for the game will open at 6pm at the Premier Suite, where fans are able to enjoy pre-match build-up on giant plasma screens with beverages and hot food also available for purchase.