Match preview: Forest vs Barnsley in association with Football Index

20 September 2019

Check out all you need to know ahead of the clash at The City Ground between Nottingham Forest and Barnsley in the match preview, in association with Football Index.

Nottingham Forest return home to The City Ground with Barnsley the visitors as The Reds look to continue their fine form in front of a capacity crowd tomorrow (kick-off 3pm).

Forest are on an eight-match unbeaten run and go into the game off the back of a fine 1-0 victory away to league leaders Swansea City last weekend. They will be looking to follow that up with another three points on Saturday and secure back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.

Barnsley have had a tough start to life back in the Championship following their promotion last season. The opening day victory over Fulham is their only one to date but they are an improving side and will pose a strong test on Trentside.

Brian Clough

Club News

Brian Clough celebration on Saturday

18 September 2019

Today (Friday) marks 15 years since the club's legendary manager passed away, therefore the club are encouraging supporters to join in with a day of celebration at Saturday's game.

On the 15^th minute, there will be an image of Brian Clough on the big screens and the club are encouraging supporters to hold a minutes’ applause.

Supporters are also encouraged to pay their own tributes, by wearing their own Clough memorabilia such as his iconic green jumper, Clough t-shirts, scarves and bringing their flags.

Team news

There are no fresh injury concerns for Forest as they get ready to face Barnsley.

Rafa Mir remains sidelined through injury but Sabri Lamouchi hopes he will return next week. Ryan Yates is also nearing a return to action, but is more likely to need a couple of extra weeks.

Carl Jenkinson, Tendayi Darikwa, Yohan Benalouane and Michael Hefele all remain longer-term absentees.

Forest thoughts

Sabri Lamouchi

Matty Cash

Head to head

	Forest wins	Draws	Barnsley wins
League	29	21	28
FA Cup	1	1	1
Total	30	22	29

Last time out

From the opposition

Barnsley assistant manager Chris Stern has been encouraged by The Tykes' development as a team in recent weeks and wants to see more of it at The City Ground tomorrow.

He said: “We started well at Wigan; we had a good game considering the number of players we had out. Then, during the international break we worked hard as a team. The performance and intensity from the Leeds game is the standard we need to have every week. We can definitely say from those last two matches that we have our Barnsley team back.

“We are pleased with the performances, we came close to grabbing a point and maybe even winning against one of the best sides in the league, so this makes us confident and we need to carry on playing like we are doing.

“They are statement team. They are a proper Championship club that have had some great results recently. They beat Swansea 1-0 last weekend, so it’s going to hard for us to travel to Nottingham, but we are confident in our own ourselves. They are on a good run; however, we want to win again, and we are looking forward to a good game.”

Referee

The man in the middle on Saturday will be Jarred Gillett, an Australian official in his debut season in English football.

Gillett has taken charge of five matches so far this season, showing 19 yellow cards, and this will be his first time officiating a Forest match.

Club News

Play the half-time draw and help Forest Women

19 September 2019

Tickets news

Tickets for home supporters have sold out, with over 29,000 fans set to back The Reds.

The only remaining way to watch Saturday's game against Barnsley is by purchasing a Legends' Lounge package, priced at £60 (+VAT) for adults and £40 (+VAT) for 4-15-year-olds. To book a package, please call 0115 982 4450.

Full information can be found here.

Coverage

International subscribers to iFollow Forest can watch the match live, with audio commentary provided by BBC Radio Nottingham also available.

There willalso be full coverage via the club's official social media channels and in the Match Centre.

Other fixtures

All fixtures to be played at 3pm on Saturday unless otherwise stated:

Leeds vs Derby (12.30pm)
Birmingham vs Preston
Brentford vs Stoke
Bristol City vs Swansea
Cardiff vs Middlesbrough
Luton vs Hull
Millwall vs QPR
Reading vs Blackburn
Sheffield Wednesday vs Fulham
Wigan vs Charlton
West Brom vs Huddersfield (Sunday, 12pm)

Match Reports

Forest 1-0 Barnsley

21 September 2019

Ben Watson's first goal for Nottingham Forest gave The Reds a 1-0 win over Barnsley at The City Ground and pushed them into the top six in the Sky Bet Championship.

The midfielder made the crucial breakthrough with 56 minutes on the clock to ensure Forest recorded back-to-back wins and left a sold-out City Ground with all three points.

Sabri Lamouchi made two changes from the 1-0 win at Swansea City with Joe Lolley and Tiago Silva comes into the side in place of Sammy Ameobi and Albert Adomah respectively.

The Reds made a bright start to the contest as Lewis Grabban saw a shot blocked from close range after he got on the end of Joao Carvalho's pass before Joe Worrall fired over at the back post from Silva's deep free-kick into the box.

Grabban had a golden opportunity to open the scoring midway through the first half as Watson's terrific through-ball sent him one-on-one with goalkeeper Brad Collins but he could only guide his shot inches wide of the left-hand post.

Forest were finding plenty of space in behind Barnsley's back four but struggling to exploit it fully. Yuri Ribeiro was left in acres of room down the left-hand channel and he swung a ball into the box but Lolley's acrobatic effort didn't trouble Collins.

Luke Thomas almost made the breakthrough for the visitors in the final minute of the first half as he surged into the Forest penalty area but Brice Samba made a strong save to deny the Barnsley midfielder and keep the scores level at half-time.

Barnsley began the second half on the front foot and but spurned a couple of early chances. Toby Sibbick drilled a shot just wide from the edge of the penalty area before Mallik Wilks saw his effort from a similar distance comfortably held by Samba.

Daniel Stendel's men had been the superior team in the early stages of the second half but they were behind on 56 minutes thanks to Watson's first goal in Forest colours. A superb one-two between Lolley and Matty Cash ended with the latter pulling the ball back for Watson to drill home the opening goal of the afternoon.

The Reds could have made it two goals in eight minutes as Adomah, fresh off the bench, made his way down the right-hand side but his excellent cross was headed over the crossbar by the onrushing Carvalho.

Despite having half-chances to extend their lead, the warning signs started to flash for Forest in the final ten minutes of the contest. Samba had to be alert to palm behind a powerful strike from Thomas before substitute Patrick Schmidt glanced a header inches wide of the far post.

The game had become open and stretched as it entered the final five minutes and substitute Semedo had an opportunity to seal victory for Forest but he could only find the side-netting having cut inside from the right.

Michael Dawson produced a stunning block with a minute of normal time to play as he prevented Mallik Wilks's goalbound effort from hitting the target before Sibbick's deflected shot fell inches wide of the target as Forest put their bodies on the line.

Barnsley continued to chuck balls into the Forest penalty area as they sought an all-important equaliser but The Reds saw out five minutes of stoppage time to secure victory as well as back-to-back clean sheets.

Forest: Samba; Cash, Dawson (c), Worrall, Ribeiro; Watson, Sow; Lolley (Semedo 81'), Carvalho (Ameobi 70'), Silva (Adomah 60'); Grabban

Subs not used: Muric, Figueiredo, Bostock, Robinson

Goal: Watson 56'

Bookings: Cash 24', Samba 90'

Barnsley: Collins; Pinillos, Halme (McGeehan 77'), Andersen, Williams (Chaplin 71'); Wilks, Mowatt (c), Sibbick, Brown; Woodrow (Schmidt 71'), Thomas

Subs not used: Walton, Bahre, Oduor, Thiam

Bookings: Williams 29', Halme 52', Chaplin 90'

Referee: Jarred Gillett

Attendance: 29,202 (1,952 away)

Ticket News

Barnsley ticket information

20 September 2019

Nottingham Forest supporters are reminded that tickets for Saturday's home fixture with Barnsley are now sold out and fans who have not purchased tickets are kindly asked not to make the journey to The City Ground.

Supporters who have already purchased tickets but have chosen to collect them rather than have them posted, may do so from the main ticket office from 9am on Saturday morning. Please try to arrive as early as possible to collect match tickets to avoid unnecessary queuing.

From 1pm on Saturday, all Barnsley ticket collections will be relocated to the collections office which is situated at the corner of the Brian Clough Stand and Trent End.

Supporters who have either misplaced their tickets, or have not received them in the post, are asked to call the ticket office on 0115 982 4388 to have duplicate tickets organised. Calling in advance will also reduce any delays ahead of kick-off.

Season card holders are reminded that their cards are activated for this fixture and are urged, wherever possible, to arrive at the stadium at least 45 minutes prior to kick-off to ensure that their season card works and enable the ticket office to resolve any potential issues which would otherwise result in fans missing kick-off.

Supporters who find that their ticket does not work in the turnstiles are asked to locate the nearest member of the club's 'here-to-help' squad, who will be on hand to assist in getting into the stadium as smoothly as possible. Members of the 'here-To-help' squad are easy to spot in their fluorescent pink high-visibility jackets.

Advice for other games

Supporters who wish to purchase tickets for any of Forest’s upcoming games which are currently on sale or who have purchased tickets and wish to collect them will be able to do so at the main ticket office between 9am and 1.30pm on Saturday. After this point, fans are requested to do so after the final whistle, again from the main ticket office.

This will ensure that supporters who need assistance for tomorrow’s game can be prioritised and ensures that they do not miss kick-off.