Hull City face a tough away test at in-form Nottingham Forest

Hull City travel to Nottingham Forest looking to lay down a true marker of how far they have adjusted to life in the Championship.

Having been in a much-improved vein of form to take them out of the relegation places, they face a very different Forest side to what was witnessed earlier in the season.

Under Steve Cooper, the Reds have transformed their worst start to a season in 107 years and moved up the Championship table to find themselves just four points off the play-off places.

It has been a remarkable turnaround for the East Midlands club as, under Chris Hughton, they were a side bottom of the league, struggling for goals and looking devoid of ideas in the final third.

Cooper has installed a new belief within the underperforming squad which was evident last weekend as they tore Swansea City apart 4-1 at the Liberty Stadium. The 42-year-old has made an immediate impact and has quickly embraced a counter-attacking style that was once synonymous with successful sides in the past.

Whilst Forest have found victories easier to come by on the road, they have found it more difficult on home soil when teams have sat back and invited them on. Grant McCann’s men will go to the City Ground with confidence and belief of extending their unbeaten run.

Hull will undoubtedly be relishing the challenge of taking on the Championship’s in-form team in front of a packed house and it will be a yardstick of how far they have come since winning promotion last season.

There will be several critical battles across the pitch that could be pivotal in what should be a highly competitive affair.

George Honeyman v Ryan Yates

In recent weeks, Honeyman has been in excellent form for the Tigers and has very much been the catalyst for turning slender defeats into points on the board. His energy between the lines will require Forest to be on their toes and Ryan Yates will be pivotal in ensuring that he is tracked from deep.

Yates’ form has notably gone up another gear since Cooper’s arrival and has added greater consistency to his game that has seen him move on from a young prospect at the club.  He is not only a player that will get about the pitch and win his fair share of duels, but Yates has also improved his ball retention.

The Lincoln-born midfielder is now showing that he can contribute more in the final third. His development is certainly one to keep an eye on having once again been instrumental in Forest’s win at Swansea last weekend.

“It will be an interesting game. Forest are playing well and are just outside the play-offs but Hull are also in good form. I think it will be close but the Tigers have a great record at Forest.

“Memories of Matty Fryatt and Paul McShane getting winners back in the early 2010s are still strong in my mind but I think Hull will take a draw to make sure they go into Christmas with the unbeaten run still intact.” Luke Flanagan, Hull City supporter

Keane Lewis-Potter v Djed Spence

With Forest deploying a 3-4-3 formation under Cooper, it is expected that McCann will match up similarly with his 3-5-2. The battle of the wing-backs could be crucial to proceedings, particularly if Keane Lewis-Potter and Djed Spence go head-to-head.

Spence has arguably been Forest’s Player of the Season and his link-up play with Brennan Johnson, in particular, has completely changed the dynamic of the Reds’ attack which looked so drab under Chris Hughton.

Nottingham Forest and Spence are both understood to be keen on completing his season-long loan spell at the club, but with a recall clause in his loan, it remains to be seen if Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder will bring him back to the club.

If Lewis-Potter is to be deployed up against Spence, it will be one of his most challenging encounters of the season. However, with his manager encouraging him to stay high, it will be interesting to see which side comes out on top in that area of the pitch.

The 20-year-old has four goals and three assists to his name, and considering he has moved up a level and adjusted to a new position, it is no surprise to hear his name linked to Premier League clubs.

“It’s a bit of a deeper role to what I’m used to but the gaffer gives us freedom – me and Ryan [Longman] – to play out wide and get into pockets in the middle of the pitch.

“We get the freedom to go forward. When one wing-back is on the ball, the other wing-back is expected to be in the box.

“I’m used to playing on the left-hand side but there have been a few times last season and this season where I have played as a right winger.

“It’s been challenging playing as a wing-back but I’m enjoying it. It’s something I’m looking to improve on and I can do that game-by-game.” – Keane Lewis-Potter, Hull City forward/wing-back

Lewis Grabban v Di’Shon Bernard

 

Di’Shon Bernard has put in a number of solid performances of late but he’ll have a new challenge this time around to ensure he keeps expert marksman Lewis Grabban under wraps.

Whilst Bernard should dominate Grabban both in the air and in a foot race, the Forest striker’s movement and ability inside the penalty box will require 100% concentration from the Manchester United loanee. With nine goals now to his name this season, the former Aston Villa frontman is in a rich vein of form.

“Forest should win this fixture but the Reds have found it hard to break teams down at home when the opposition decides to sit deep and play Forest at their own counter-attacking game.” Chris Slack, Nottingham Forest supporter

In last weekend’s 2-2 draw at home to Bristol City, Bernard and Jacob Greaves were not at their best with the ball and with Forest’s appetite to break on the counter, they cannot afford to be as wasteful.

“They’re littered with top quality throughout their squad, particularly in the forward areas.

“We played against Brennan Johnson last year at Lincoln and we know how well he’s adapting to the Championship and his pace is a threat.

“Lewis Grabban is one of the all-time leading goalscorers in the Championship and has played for so long at this level.

“They’ve got Philip Zinckernagel as well and good players all over the pitch.” – Grant McCann, Hull City manager

McCann has always maintained that there will be no compromise on how he wants his team to play, but the Tigers’ patience could be crucial to their afternoon’s success.

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