Can Sabri Lamouchi find the morning after remedy for Nottingham Forest?

Since their ill-fated 4-1 defeat to Stoke City in the final game of the previous campaign, Nottingham Forest will be desperate to shake off the hangover which ultimately defined their season, as a failure as they welcome Neil Harris’ Cardiff City to Trentside on Saturday, both clubs will be hoping of a return to winning ways.

Although nothing should be a surprise in football anymore, concerns are already growing on the banks of the River Trent in mid-September. Having failed to register a single shot on target in their opening fixtures against Barnsley, a 1-0 defeat in the Carabao Cup and last weekends 2-0 defeat to Queens Park Rangers, the pressure will be mounting on Sabri Lamouchi to register his first win of the campaign.

Following a poor run of results in last season’s brutal conclusion, Lamouchi will be hoping to banish any lingering negativity. Although the Forest boss would have preferred a much longer preseason to recover and prepare for the next Championship marathon;  bedding in eight new signings and his own backroom team, the Frenchman is aware that Forest will need to improve sooner rather than later.

Sabri Lamouchi spoke about how Forest must do better in order to become stronger and pick up positive results.

“After the defeat (last weekend), we want to be stronger, more solid and it is not an easy process to change a mentality but we are in a good way.

“The new players need a little bit of time but we don’t have time. We need points and to win, to find the same spirit as last season.”

Luke Freeman, a season-long loan signing from Sheffield United, is the man that Lamouchi has turned to in the hunt for a bit of creativity in the side. Freeman showed a number of promising touches last weekend on his debut, linking the midfield and attack and the Forest manager will be keen to get him on the ball as much as possible on Saturday.

Whilst Lewis Grabban uncharacteristically missed a host of good chances against Queens Park Rangers, Lamouchi will be encouraged by the openings that were created for his talisman. With the added responsibility of captaincy, Grabban will be looking to make amends this weekend.

After Cardiff’s opening day 2-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday and an early exit in the Carabao Cup to Northampton Town, Harris will be as equally keen as his counterpart Sabri Lamouchi to move on from their disappointing loss to Fulham in the 2019/20 play-off semi-finals.

Whilst Harris has arguably exceeded expectations at Cardiff since his surprise appointment in November 2019, the former Millwall manager will fancy going one better this time around.

Following Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s contract termination, Harris is still mindful that he requires more quality in the Bluebirds attack. Despite the arrival of Wigan striker Kiefer Moore and Liverpool winger Sheyi Ojo, Cardiff are yet to open their goals account for the season.

The Cardiff manager looked to have added creativity and goals to his side as he spoke to the press before this weekend’s match against Nottingham Forest.

”For me, creativity, goals, end product, is a must for us within the squad”

“We have got some good players who can be creative in the final third.

“Would I like a bit more strength in depth in the forward area? I think it’s safe to say we are looking at that top end of the pitch, for a little bit more end product.

“But we know that’s the business end of the pitch and it’s difficult to find (players) at the right value.”

Ironically, Lee Tomlin, the player Forest chose not to pursue in favour of Carvalho, has enjoyed something of a renaissance under Harris. The Championship seasoned playmaker contributed goals and assists that were pivotal in Cardiff’s rise up the table in securing a top-six finish. It is hoped that Tomlin will be fit enough to play some part in Saturday’s game having come off the bench against Wednesday last weekend. 

There is also added spice to the fixture; with a fallout between the two clubs in July as Forest recalled the on-loan Albert Adomah from Cardiff with the season still to be concluded. The loan agreement ended during the lockdown period and Forest were not prepared to extend the arrangement any further, particularly to a play-off rival, much to the annoyance of Harris.

There will be no love lost between the two on Saturday but both managers will be hoping to get one over on the other, in just the second league game of the season.

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