Reds v Cherries Preview

Next up Forest welcome the boys from sunny Bournemouth to the City Ground for yet another vital encounter for both sides. This time last year the two sides met in similar circumstances, as The Cherries were fighting for their lives and The Reds were chasing the outside chance of a playoff place.

With three games remaining, Bristol City refuse to put us out of our misery and take second place. Forest need maximum points from the final three games and also have to hope that City cave in under the pressure in order to maintain their slimmest of slim hopes for automatic promotion. Bournemouth will also be wanting a result, as they sit just five points above the drop zone in 18th place not quite safe yet.

The Cherries have done well against us in the recent past. Both of last seasons games ended 1-1, whilst earlier this season The Cherries spanked us 2-0, to start the slump that caused so much damage to our promotion hopes. For this reason alone I would like to see us turn them over, but as we all know it's hard to predict what NFFC will turn up.

Calderwood was today buoyed by the news that Sammy Clingan could be back in time for the dreaded playoffs and recalled Felix Bastians from his loan spell at the Gills. He should be in the squad to face Bournemouth.

Bastians will probably make the bench to add some much needed support to our short in numbers attack.

Calderwood will wait and see if Wes Morgan will be fit enough as he is carrying an ankle injury. Lewis McGugan should now be fully recovered from his dead leg that seemed to be still troubling him in the Brentford game. Other than that Forest's injuries are the same as before with Agogo, Tyson and Dobie still out.

Fans have come to expect a lot from the youngster and he has not been found wanting. Still to get into double figures with his appearances the local lad has made a massive impact in his short spell in the side. A good eye for goal and a lethal right foot, the lad from Long Eaton has a long future ahead of him.

The Cherries are in fine form at the moment and held Swansea to a 1-1 draw last week. Injuries are taking there toll as with all sides at this stage of the season. The eternally injured Darren Anderton looks a major doubt with a groin strain, but keeper Neil Moss should recover from an ankle knock and they will give as much time as possible to defender Josh Gowling who had a suspected broken thumb.

Whilst David McGoldrick is stealing the headlines at the moment, with 6 goals since his loan from Southampton, Reds fans will need no introduction to Jamie Hayter. Although the striker has only hit 9 goals this campaign, he managed 20 last year and ran the Reds defence ragged in both games.

Seven meetings between the sides have seen Forest win 3, draw 2 and lose 2.

What goes around comes around, so this time it's misery for Bournemouth with a Cherry on top. 3-1 to the good guys.

Leyton Orient. Away. 28 April, 2007

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