please log in to view this image Vs please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Team News: Forest: Boss Steve Cotterill is sweating on the fitness of centre-half Wes Morgan, who has been out since mid-December. Ishmael Miller (foot) and Brendan Moloney (knee) also have minor injuries, but Saturday's game should come too soon for all 3 mentioned players, as Cotterill looks to strengthen his squad throughout the transfer window. Saints: New Japanese signing Tadanari Lee has had his work permit granted for his move to the South Coast club, and with him flying to Southampton to finalise the deal, he may feature in the squad at the City Ground. Richard Chaplow is doubtful, with the end of the month a more realistic target for return from his injury. The extent of Frazer Richardson's injury is a mystery to outsiders, so Jack Cork or Dan Harding could deputise at right-back, as the latter did away at Coventry in the recent FA Cup success. Rickie Lambert serves the second match of his 3 game suspension for a red card against Brighton. Last Result: Forest: 0-0 DRAW Vs Leicester (Home - FA Cup). Saints: 2-1 WIN Vs Coventry (Away - FA Cup). Predicted Saints Team: -----------------------------------------------Davis------------------------------------------ --Harding-------------------------Fonte---------------Hooiveld------------------------Fox---- --De Ridder-----------------------Hammond------------Cork--------------------------Lallana--- ---------------------------------Guly------------------Connolly------------------------------- Subs: Bart, Martin, Schneiderlin, Holmes, Lee/Forte. Key Man: Forest: Chris Gunter - Forest's most impressive player at St Mary's, the Welshman has attracted interest at the start of the transfer window that was rebuked by the Midlands club. Gunter will have to keep Saints man Adam Lallana quiet if Forest are to try and obtain a second consecutive home clean sheet. Saints: Guly Do Prado - We all know about the Brazilian's moments of magic, and equally about his moments of incredible frustration. Despite performing well this season at St Mary's, that has been teamed with some shoddy away displays, and with Rickie Lambert out, big responsibility rests on Saints' second top goalscorer this season. Referee: Eddie Ilderton please log in to view this image Last Saints Game: Peterborough 4-4 Southampton, Saturday 5th February 2011. Prediction: 2-2 draw. A hard-working point but ultimately unrewarding as West Ham finally overtake Saints to top the table with a win away at Portsmouth. Forest take the lead through Marcus Tudgay, bundling home after Saints fail to clear after just 6 minutes. Guly Do Prado equalises with a header after a knock-back from a De Ridder cross, and Saints take the lead after Jack Cork's first goal for the club in the 71st minute, a low drive beating Lee Camp. Forest snatch a draw however in stoppage time from a Hooiveld own-goal. Who said my predictions weren't realistic?! Together As One. COYS!
I'd keep faith in Aaron Martin seeing how he has done well in these last 3 games. Can't say what my team would be until we know who's fit, but 442/4411 with wide midfielders/wingers is a must. We have a decent chance if we have a gameplan to stick to that doesn't involve going straight down the middle.
I think Chaplow might play, anyway I really doubt we will start with De Ridder. Unfortunately this game has 0-0 written all over it.
We are all protecting ourselves by predicting failure..we've been doing this all season. I know we lose to lower sides, but I'm predicting the start of a Saints resurgence....2.0 or 3.1 to us. Please, please Saints score the first goal.
I just don't think we'll win. In the last 2 months ever since the Brighton 3-0 (at home) game, I have been confident of us winning just two games. They were Crystal Palace and Bristol City at home. I said to friends we would bottle it to lower teams away because that is the Southampton tradition... I really hope I am proves wrong but again I cannot see us winning! 2-0 win for Forest. Sorry guys!
To my fellow Canucks. The game is being broadcast here in Canada on Saturday, at 2-15pm E/T on Rogers Sportsnet World. Wont be live, but at least I wont have to wake up early to listen on the Saints Player
Davis Harding Hooiveld Martin Fox Cork Hammond Schneiderlin Lallana Connolly Guly SUBS: Bart, Reeves, Ward-Prowse, Holmes, Forte 1-1 draw
We are only slight favourites on odds checker, reflecting our poor away form, but Forest's home form isn't that brilliant. We must and will win this.
I like your optimism Fran, it is a game we can win but unfortunately so was the Brighton game. I think it will more depend on who we have available for selection as none of us really know.
3 - 1 saints although i'm a little disappointed we haven't managed to sign anyone,Nigel said he hoped for a couple in before this game and it's just been a bit of an anti-climax.Not having a pop at anyone but i just wish things would go smoothly for us for a change.
Tough one. 4-4-2 please Nige. I agree that the width is gonna be important, De Ridder may start, unless Chaplow is fit? would be great to have Lee on the bench, but no idea when he's returning etc. I think Lallana looked a bit better at Coventry (on player) maybe due a goal. 2-0 Saints
Really don't know what to make of our recent form; in practically all of the Championship games of late, it's felt as if we were the better side (or at worst, on par), but we've lacked in the final third. While we've popped up with some great crosses, our passing around the box -- once one of our great strengths -- has been pretty woeful...promising moves have been breaking down with nary a chance to show for it, and in our last six games we have just one goal scored by way of a boot, via Rickie against Blackpool (and that was deflected). It's hard to say that we'll walk in and beat Forest without Rickie, but given how woeful they've been, it's equally difficult to concede that we're likely to lose it (though we've proven as capable of losing to anyone as beating them). We need points here though...we're in real danger of falling quite a bit off the pace otherwise, though March and April will give us a chance to claw it all back. Going to go with 1-1: first hour a snoozer, Saints concede against the flow of play before Connolly slots one.
I've got a subsription to Al'Jazeera, it's showing as the live game, however knowing Al'Jazeera this could change in the next 48 hours.
