When Nottingham Forest hosts Luton Town at the City Ground today, Steve Cooper’s team will be hoping to record their first victory in more than a month.
Since defeating Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on September 2, the Reds have not won all three points.
Forest will need to overcome Rob Edwards’ team without several first-team players if they are to succeed.
Gonzalo Montiel, Felipe, Taiwo Awoniyi, and Danilo will all miss the game due to injuries, according to Cooper’s confirmation yesterday. Serge Aurier is probably out.
predicted the Forest starting lineup versus Luton.
Prior to the international break, Cooper is expected to make two changes to the team that drew 0-0 at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace.
defense
Odysseas Vlachodimos played well during the break, but we believe Cooper will continue to start USA shot-stopper Matt Turner in goal.
The first of the two changes may occur at right-back, where Aurier is having fitness issues. The vivacious Neco Williams may receive a rare starting position there.
For the Reds, Murillo and Wily Boly appeared to have established a strong rapport at the back, and they plan to stick together this afternoon.
The other possible change would be at left-back, where Ola Aina would take Harry Toffolo’s place after he recovered from his recent injury setback.
We anticipate the midfield trio of Ibrahim Sangare, Nicolas Dominguez, and Orel Mangala to start against Luton unchanged following another outstanding display from them.
The three appear to have developed a close bond while Cooper attempts to adopt a more possession-based approach during the playstyle’s transitional phase.
The front line may be the same as the one that played against Crystal Palace, much like the trio in the midfield.
Awoniyi is still too injured to play right now, so Chris Wood is expected to start at center again, with Callum Hudson-Odoi and Morgan Gibbs-White providing support.
Even though Anthony Elanga might not start this afternoon, his raw speed and strength could prove to be crucial in the closing moments of the game.
Turner, Williams, Boly, Murillo, Aina; Mangala, Sangare, Dominguez; Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Wood, are the predicted starting lineup.
