This game features two Scottish managers who are already under vast amounts of pressure. Despite bringing new ideas to Deepdale, Darren Ferguson has struggled to turn things around and the Lilywhites have started the season in disappointing fashion and currently find themselves in the relegation zone. Nottingham Forest on the other hand aren’t much better off and it’s clear to see that Billy Davies is feeling the pressure as his side languish in 17th position.
For the past few years Preston have been regarded as a physical side although during the summer Darren Ferguson attempted to change that. Ferguson recruited more flair players and while individually some of them are performing, as a team Preston are struggling to get to grips with the new style. As it stands they sit in 22nd position, having collect just three points from their opening five games. Four league defeats have already occurred and with the Lilywhites conceding eight in just two of those games, it’s no wonder that their goal difference is the worst in the division. Ferguson will also be particularly annoyed with their last game which saw them squander a 3-1 lead in the last ten minutes to lose 4-3 to local rivals Burnley.
Nottingham Forest aren’t performing much better and Billy Davies’ men have just the one extra point on 17th place. It’s been a truly dismal season so far for Forest and with Davies venting his frustrations in public; the City Ground outfit appear to be in something of a shambles. One positive that Davies can take from the last few weeks is the fact that City are now unbeaten in their last four games, although all of them have been draws. However, with three of those opponents being newly-promoted sides, it’s not a fantastic statistic and one that Davies will want to put to bed sooner rather than later.
As for team news, Preston could be without a host of players as Darren Ferguson sweats on the fitness of Josh King, Matthew James and Paul Coutts. What’s more, following his sending off in the last game, versatile Billy Jones will be forced to sit out this one through suspension. It’s a different story for Forest who just have the one concern in Rob Earnshaw. The former Cardiff man has struggled with a hamstring problem through the last week or so and Billy Davies will have to make a late decision on him. Elsewhere, Chris Gunter will return to the fray having served a one match suspension for a red card.
Nottingham Forest have crowned themselves as draw specialists and we think their run could continue here. These two sides just have one victory between them in the league so far and with that, we’re going to predict a goalless draw.
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