Nottingham Forest predicted XI to face Exeter City as Nuno makes big changes
Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo knows there is plenty riding on Nottingham Forest approaching tonight’s FA Cup tie at Exeter City in the right way.
Liverpool’s defeat to bottom-of-the-Championship Plymouth Argyle on Sunday serves as a warning for the Reds. Nuno is desperate for his team not to suffer the same fate.
The Premier League leaders’ exit leaves Forest as the highest ranked team remaining in the competition, and they want to keep it that way. There will certainly be no underestimating the Grecians at St James Park (8pm kick-off).
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Asked how much he knows about Exeter, Nuno said in his pre-match press conference on Monday morning: "Enough! Enough to know it's going to be very hard."
Nevertheless, he will make changes to his team. Just as he did against Luton Town in the previous round, Nuno will “reward” some of his players who have seen little by way of regular game time with valuable minutes.
Goalkeeper Carlos Miguel has already been told he will start in place of No.1 Matz Sels. Nuno has pledged to go with the Brazilian between the posts for as long as Forest’s cup run lasts, with the hope he will go all the way to the final.
Ahead of Miguel, the visitors might opt for a change to their usual 4-2-3-1 formation and go with a back three. Willy Boly, Morato and Harry Toffolo lined up together against the Hatters and could do so again this evening.
If it is a back four, Toffolo would be battling with Alex Moreno for the left-back spot. The switch in system would allow both to feature, along with another run-out for youngster Eric da Silva Moreira on the right.
Whatever shape the Reds deploy, Nuno will have a dilemma in midfield. For starters, he must weigh up whether Ibrahim Sangare is fit enough to start his first game since August.
The 27-year-old made his comeback from a hamstring problem last time out, as a substitute in the 7-0 thrashing of Brighton and Hove Albion. He has had time to build up his fitness further since then, with the players having just returned from a warm-weather training camp in Dubai as they made the most of a gap in their fixture schedule.
Danilo, too, has only recently returned to action after sustaining a broken ankle on the opening day of the campaign. He came off the bench against Luton last month, then was in the XI against the Seagulls. Ryan Yates and Nicolas Dominguez will also be battling for the midfield spots, such is the fierce competition in that department.
The other big question surrounds whether winger Callum Hudson-Odoi will feature. He has missed the last two matches with a groin problem and Nuno was coy about his fitness when he faced the media on Monday.
Even if Hudson-Odoi is available, though, would Forest risk him from the off? Nuno will no doubt have Saturday’s trip to face Fulham in the Premier League on his mind and it seems unlikely he will take any risks.
Assuming the Reds boss wants to keep his big-hitters in reserve, the chances are Jota Silva and Ramon Sosa will get the nod as the wide men against the Grecians. Most likely they will be providing attacking support for Taiwo Awoniyi as Nuno looks to get the front man back to his best.
The lack of a striker signing before the winter window closed means there is added importance around Awoniyi finding form. It falls on the Nigerian and Chris Wood to see the Reds through for the remainder of the campaign, and they really need both of them firing.
Forest predicted XI to face Exeter: Miguel; Boly, Morato, Toffolo; Moreira, Yates, Danilo, Moreno; Jota, Awoniyi, Sosa.
