Extra spice adds to automatic promotion showdown as Forest visit AFC Bournemouth

Nottingham Forest travel to AFC Bournemouth on Tuesday evening, facing arguably their most prominent fixture in 20 plus years.

Steve Cooper’s men continue their rise from the foot of the Championship table with all eyes now set on securing an automatic promotion spot following a convincing win over Swansea City at the weekend.

Scott Parker’s Cherries stand in their way with one foot already occupying an automatic spot and knowing that a win would get the job done and achieve promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking since relegation in 2020.

On the back of some vital late equalisers against Fulham and Swansea, Bournemouth impressed at Ewood Park at the weekend, with Dominic Solanke and Phillip Billing showing their class in the 3-0 win over Blackburn Rovers.

Solanke scored an outstanding goal to put Bournemouth ahead for his 30th goal of the campaign and came close to grabbing a 31st with more superb individualism, which leaves him looking every inch a 20 million pound player going into the final stages.

Phillip Billing was another significant name on the scoresheet, with the Dane hitting the goal trail for his tenth strike of the season, whilst his assist for Solanke’s opener was his eighth contribution since August.

The game will be one of the biggest in Championship history for what is at stake, but Forest have to win to take matters down to the last game, where they travel to Hull while Bournemouth entertain Millwall.

“The fact the season has come down to this is both exciting and disappointing. We’ve been marmite really, some love it and some hate it but what we do have is intensity and desire, even though it has been awfully inconsistent.

“Slow starts and lack of adapting in-game has seen many points dropped and too many calm moments shown as opposed to going for it. That may be ‘Parker-ball’ so we don’t know which one will turn up tomorrow. It really is on a knife edge. I think we will scrape it 2-1” – Simon Kay – AFC Bournemouth supporter

With only a solitary conceded goal between them in goal difference, the occasion promises to be special in front of a sell-out crowd and Sky television cameras.

There is extra spice to consider that will only add to the hype as the game draws closer to kick off.

Steve Cook, a Cherries legend deemed surplus to requirements by Scott Parker back in the January transfer window, had only managed three starts under Fulham’s former manager.

The 31-year-old has taken to life by the banks of the River Trent like a duck to water. Making his debut in their shock 3rd round FA Cup win over Arsenal, Cook has fully embraced life at The City Ground, hungry for more success which he had experienced during his time with the Dorset club.

Having made 387 appearances for Bournemouth during his 11-year stint at The Vitality Stadium, the centre back has recovered from a foot injury sustained against Bristol City at the end of March, which will now see him face up against his former club with a point to prove that there is still plenty left in his tank.

Having returned to the starting lineup in last week’s win at Fulham in the place of the unfortunate Tobi Figueiredo, Cook offers his manager a different dynamic with the ball to complement Forest’s attacking threat. He played a part in two of Forest’ goals at the weekend with his composed ability to build out from defence.

Cook, however, isn’t the only ex-Cherry on show with Sam Surridge, returning to the club where he had begun his professional career making 42 appearances and scoring seven goals.

Surridge has been an enormous surprise package for Forest, having joined from Stoke City for around two million pounds, and has already surpassed his Cherries goal tally with eight goals in all competitions for the Reds.

With Steve Cooper already a fan during his loan spell at Swansea City last season, there has been a change in the direction of recruitment at the club, with Cooper being backed to bring in his preferred players.

Initially seen as a back up striker to Lewis Grabban and Keinan Davis, Surridge now leads the Forest line and is enjoying the best football of his career.

Surridge’s hat-trick at the weekend in their 5-1 win over Swansea was another enormous contribution following on from his winning goal at Peterborough United the previous weekend.

“A consistent Forest defence versus an inventive Bournemouth front line lends itself to being a tight game.

“The subplot being the controversy previous late call off when Bournemouth were nursing a few injuries.

“If you’re only as good as your last game then both sides will be chomping at the bit. Forest to edge it 1-0.” – Simon Hancock – Forest Supporter

In team news, both clubs are set to be unchanged from their weekend victories, and it is a fixture that both manager’s are very much looking forwards to.

Scott Parker acknowledged that this is the first chance they have had of confirming automatic promotion and feels that his said are focussed on the task ahead.

“We have the opportunity. A win gets us promoted.

“What we have done throughout this season has been very process-driven and very clear-minded about what we need to do and how we need to go about things.

“That’s not going to change between now and Tuesday night. That’s going to stay the same and we are going to try and go and execute and try to get the win.”

Forest’s Steve Cooper, who lost in last season’s playoff final as Brentford put his Swansea side to the sword, is very much aware of the threat Bournemouth present.

“They are a good team, well coached, and you can see why they have been in the league position they have for the majority of the season.

“They have some really good players and a clear way of playing. It’s got the makings of a really good game. They are playing well. We’re playing well. Let’s go for it.

“The only thing which needs to be in our mind is our preparation, our focus and getting ready for what is a great challenge. We go there full of confidence, we go there excited and we go there with a positive approach. We can’t wait for the game”

Come 7pm on Tuesday evening; the stage will be set for one of the biggest showdowns in Championship history.

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