Former European Champions hovering over the trap door

Just two years ago they looked on the verge of a successful future, and lost out in an epic Play Off Semi Final against Sheffield United but things have hardly been good since. Last year a superb run saw them escape the drop comfortably after they had looked favourites and when Gary Megson replaced Joe Kinnear as boss a few good results suggested the same might happen.

That run of decent results, with a few clean sheets, even included a win over Preston who have otherwise been unbeaten since they lost at Burnley in December. But things have gone from bad to worse and only a minor miracle would save them now from the drop.

Three wins from the last three games could save them but there would be no guarantees and there’s been more upset this week with players accused of causing disturbances whilst drunk on Tuesday night, not for the first time according to Megson.

There have been changes since Megson took over in the second week of January with new players coming in and others going out. His first signing saw him bring in former Manchester United and Blackburn defender John Curtis from Portsmouth and he followed that up by capturing Plymouth’s David Friio for £100,000.

Friio had the option of remaining at Plymouth or joining Burnley, I wonder what he’ll be thinking now of his decision to move to Nottingham.

Scott Dobie, who had previously played for the manager at West Brom, was a surprise capture for £525,000, Millwall electing to sell the player who had been with them for just three months.

They currently also have West Ham’s Andy Melville and Birmingham’s young keeper Colin Doyle on loan.

Through the exit door went Michael Dawson and Andy Reid at the end of January, bringing in a reported £8 million for Forest although some of that is not an immediate payment. To add to that Megson shipped a few out on loan in March including Marlon King and David Johnson who just weeks earlier had been the strike pair.

They have gone to Leeds and Sheffield United respectively whilst Andy Impey and Craig Westcarr are currently with Millwall and Franchise.

They have drawn four and lost four of their last eight league games and it really is beginning to look impossible for them to stay up. Forest v Southend and Yeovil are looking likely for next season.

Click HERE to see all Forest’s results this season.

Colin Doyle will make his first league start in goal with regular keeper Paul Gerrard ruled out after being ridiculously sent off at Reading last week but there is some good news for Forest with both John Curtis and David Friio back in training after both have missed the last four games with calf injuries.

Another who could be back is Alan Rogers who missed the Reading game with a knee problem whilst Scott Dobie is expected to play despite a foot injury.

Megson is expected to choose from:

Colin Doyle, Matthieu Louis-Jean, James Perch, Wes Morgan, Gareth Taylor, Andy Melville, Ross Gardner, Paul Evans, Darryl Powell, Kris Commons, Scott Dobie, Neil Harris, Eugen Bopp, Chris Doig, Jon-Olav Hjelde, Alan Rogers, John Curtis, David Friio.

Click HERE to see Forest’s full squad.

Burnley go looking for what has become something of a rarity, a win in Nottingham. The last victory was at Notts County in the week after Christmas 1979 whilst our last success at Forest was 41 years ago last Monday when goals from Ian Towers(2) and Willie Irvine gave us a 3-1 win.

There looks to be no sign of a return for Frank Sinclair tomorrow who has had a setback during his rehabilitation but manager Steve Cotterill says he is happy enough with his back four in any case.

It's looking likely that it will be the same team apart from in goal where Danny Coyne will take his turn, replacing Brian Jensen.

The Burnley team should be: Danny Coyne, Michael Duff, Gary Cahill, John McGreal, Mo Camara, Dean Bowditch, Micah Hyde, Tony Grant, James O'Connor, Graham Branch, Ade Akinbiyi. Subs: Brian Jensen, Lee Roche, Joel Pilkington, John Oster, Jean-Louis Valois.

Last Time

It was a vital game for both clubs when we met just over a year ago. Forest were in sixteenth place with 41 points whilst the Clarets, reeling from a 4-0 stuffing at Coventry, were five places lower with a point less.

Stan Ternent moved Graham Branch to the centre of the defence and left out Mark McGregor after the Coventry shambles and he had an inspired evening against Gareth Taylor as we turned in a much better performance.

We got an early lead after the Forest keeper Roche fumbled a Neil Wood shot allowing Richard Chaplow in and we were the better side for most of the game. It was somewhat undeserved when Gareth Taylor equalised for Forest, his second goal against us in two games.

The teams were,

Nott’m. Forest: Barry Roche, Matthieu Louis-Jean (Andy Impey 61), Michael Dawson, Wes Morgan, Des Walker (John Thompson 24), Eoin Jess, Danny Sonner, Gareth Williams, Andy Reid, Gareth Taylor, Nick Barmby (David Johnson 61). Subs not used: Pascal Formann, Craig Westcarr.

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Dean West, David May, Graham Branch, Mo Camara, Glen Little, Richard Chaplow, Tony Grant (Mark McGregor 78), Neil Wood (Paul Weller 76), Robbie Blake, Ian Moore. Subs not used: Nathan Abbey, Ryan Townsend, Paul Scott.