Nuno Espirito Santo Unveiling - City Ground Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo is unveiled as the clubs new manager ahead of a press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz at the City Ground, Nottingham. The Portuguese has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract at the City Ground following Tuesday s sacking of Steve Cooper. Picture date: Wednesday December 19, 2023. Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder. PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUKxIRL Copyright: xBradleyxCollyerx 74918166
The Reds are hoping for a big victory when they visit Bramall Lane.
This Saturday afternoon at Bramall Lane, Nottingham Forest takes on Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United team in what is likely to be one of their most significant games of the season.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s team is hoping to get back to winning ways after losing to Champions Manchester City 2-0 the previous Sunday.
The Reds are facing the possibility of a return to the Championship after losing their previous four league games.
But, the club has a fantastic chance to avoid any impending danger when they play the Blades, who have already announced that they will play in England’s second division again the next season.
Chris Wood came on and scored a brilliantly placed header to secure Forest’s first win of the 2023–24 season in a 2-1 victory over United earlier this season.
If Nuno’s side are to claim three vital points from the meeting, he must recall one player to the starting lineup and stick with one after his magnificent display against Pep Guardiola’s side.
Why Andrew Omobamidele must start against Sheff Utd
In the past few weeks, Nuno has made the decision to start Moussa Niakhate in place of defender Andrew Omobamidele in the matches against Everton and Manchester City.
Under Nuno, the Irishman has made eight Premier League starts. He frequently plays with Murillo in the back, providing balance and letting each player play on their natural side of the backline.
But the Reds manager went to a back three against Guardiola’s team, with Niakhate positioned in the middle and Willy Boly and Murillo on each side of the Senegalese defender.
For extended periods, his team was on par with City, but Niakhate, like he did against Everton, was unable to have a significant effect on the game and lost all of the duels he participated in.
Nuno stated that Murillo and Boly should be able to play against the Blades this afternoon after hobbling off; the former Wolves manager will also need to bring back Omobamidele.
Nuno must stick with one Forest player for Sheff Utd clash
As was previously reported, Boly was brought back into the starting lineup for the match last weekend and put up an excellent showing at the back, despite not playing since the 1-1 draw with Luton Town back in March.
The 33-year-old immediately returned to the team, making two blocks and two interceptions in addition to challenging eight tackles.
As nicknamed by former teammate Pascal Estrada, the Ivorian “unit” also won ten duels in the close 2-0 loss, and they executed 15 defensive actions, the most of any Forest player that day.
| Boly’s stats against Manchester City | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | Tally |
| Minutes played | 84 |
| Passes completed | 22/27 (88%) |
| Tackles | 8 |
| Blocks | 2 |
| Interceptions | 2 |
| Defensive actions | 15 |
| Duels won | 10 |
| Stats via FotMob | |
The £40,000-per-week center defender, who is nearing the twilight of his career, has the aerial ability the Reds have been desperate for at the back, especially since Nuno’s team has allowed the most goals from set pieces this season—22—in the Premier League.
Boly is a defensive system element that is sometimes overlooked, thus Nuno will need to start him in a back three this weekend at Bramall Lane.
