We are, of course, definitely going to end the weekend in the relegation zone whatever the outcome – four points from safety is our current predicament, whilst Watford – who had been flirting with earlier in the season have put some clear space between them and the drop zone – currently they’re 12 points clear of the dreaded bottom three with recent wins over Millwall and Barnsley – they will also, of course, be in confident mood having given Tottenham a tough game in the cup.

It might be quite a difficult to predict line-up and formation with three loanees poised to make their debut – George Forman (sorry, Elokobi – thanks Melbourne Red for the gag) has just arrived on loan from Wolves with almost universally bad feedback, but he’s a left back, and since Greg Cunningham is injured we could do with one of those.  Danny Higginbotham and Scott Wootton may also feature in what could be a very different looking back four.  With Chambers available after his suspension we suddenly seem to have a lot of options back there.

Could it be that Steve Cotterill is planning on simply fielding six defenders and four strikers, thus bypassing the need for a midfield all together?  It’s certainly possible!  Brendan Moloney at least is not available in defence due to a thigh injury, as isn’t the aforementioned Cunningham.  Chris Cohen of course heads the long-term injury list, which is starting to look a lot more manageable than it has done of late.

Watford's manager: Given up American Wrestling for Football Management

Former Reds striker Joe Garner is likely to line up against us – much like here he’s not exactly been prolific for the Hornets.  Their manager, Stonecold Steve Austin (sic) is in confident mood, as well he might be.  A trip to can’t-get-a-point-for-love-nor-money Forest is a great opportunity for them to clock up a third win on the bounce and continue their progression.  They’re in good shape squad-wise too – only McGinn and Taylor missing with a knee and toe injury respectively.

Added to their general progression Watford also have the ignominy of being one of the few teams this season who’ve suffered defeat at our hands earlier in the season.  In a televised game at Vicarage Road that wasn’t exactly memorable, it was Ishmael Miller who grabbed the only goal of the game after a defensive mix-up in dealing with a long punt from Lee Camp gave Miller his chance to pounce and divert the ball past a stranded Scott Loach.

Cotterill has been talking about players channelling their emotions positively in this game – and he’s absolutely right.  Whilst supporters have been rightly saddened by the passing away of Mr Doughty, for the players perhaps have had the unplanned break from play after his death to consider whether or not they’ve always justified their handsome salaries – I hope a bit of reflection and a bit of renewed fight and pulling together is evident.

We haven’t scored a goal for 12 weeks at home – and that is an absolutely appalling statistic, I can think of no better tribute to Nigel Doughty’s memory than having the City Ground fans subjected to that bloody awful goal-music that I have dim recollections of us playing on the event of a home goal.  That’s if the CD player that plays the tune hasn’t seized up through lack of use!

Generally I’ve steered the blog clear of too much comment upon his past running of the club – largely because of my lack of knowledge rather than any conscious decision.

Certainly now is not the time to start on that track – what is undeniable is his generosity of deed and spirit, both in the Forest context and more widely in the local community – more than that of course he was a son, a husband, a father and a friend.  I for one am terribly sad to have heard this news.

Of course the question of the future of the club – of which whilst no longer Chairman, Mr Doughty was the owner – must be posed at some point, but I would press you all – let’s not speculate on this now, and just take a moment or several to take time out to reflect upon the passing of a man who tried to do the right thing for the club.

Sleep well, Nigel, and thank you.

We’ve lost three on the bounce, we’ve not scored since November except against Ipswich, we look passionless, shapeless and clueless with a manager who seems to not actually to have lost the dressing room, but never found it in the first place.  However – we do have a couple of new faces to freshen things up, ex-Ram Danny Higginbotham and Manchester United youngster Scott Wootton checked in on deadline day to join Guerdioura on loan.

There is also the ‘boost’ of captain Luke Chambers returning from suspension.  I’m not massively excited by this, in truth, as the skipper has been less than impressive this season – but let’s face it, we need defenders.  Particularly since Moloney is again injured with a thigh injury, with Cunningham still out and of course Chris Cohen – injured in the clusterfuck of a game at the City Ground against Derby – remains on the long term injured list.

Our hosts are – of course – preparing to hand Nathan Tyson his third start of the season for the Rams, he came off the bench in their last game against Barnsley on his latest comeback from injury.  Top scorer Theo Robinson remains a doubt with a calf injury – but let’s face it, Nigel Clough will be feeling confident that his side can twist the knife for Forest, and help to cement his position as an increasingly popular manager with the Derby fans.

Ordinarily even when we are the underdogs I’d find reasons for optimism in this fixture – but I’m struggling, frankly.  Whilst we were poor under McClaren there at least appeared to be a plan – under Cotterill we’ve seen occasional glimpses of good performances (although they have been exceptions rather than rules), which inevitably end up with the side being completely rearranged and becoming rubbish akin to the game on Tuesday.

For the fixture to take right up to the wire to sell out for the away end speaks volumes – even at the grimmest of times there’s been a clamour for tickets to this fixture when it’s come in the past, this time around they’ve made general sale.  That, Steve Cotterill, is a sad indictment on the confidence our supporters have in your regime.  That, players, is why YOU OWE US a performance here.

A depressing number of people have suggested to me that a heavy defeat might be worth it if it facilitates the removal of the manager – and whilst I could never ever go that far, it’s not hard to feel at least a glimmer of sympathy with the sentiment.  Much better would be to hope that a newly galvanised Reds, strengthened by loan arrivals and the increased opportunity for Sean O’Driscoll to remind the lads about passing on the deck, might actually kickstart some kind of bid for survival in this league.

There, who said I couldn’t be optimistic?  Pah. I’m not looking forward to this.  Not one little bit.  Let is snow, let it snow, let it snow…

Interestingly Tuesday’s opponents seem to have been linked with Luke Chambers too.  It’s fair to say that since assuming the role of captain we’ve not seen anything like the best from Chambo, although even the most vehement scapegoater of the number four would probably admit it would be folly to let him and Wes go without any form of incoming replacement.  £1.2m and two unidentified fringe players – doesn’t sound too bad, does it?  Probably just made up bollocks as usual at this time of year.

Anyway, the match.  Burnley are currently sitting very much in the realms of mid-table sandwiched between Derby and Leicester.  Closer to having an outside sniff of the play-offs than being dragged into a relegation mire – although with considerable competition from many would-be promotion contenders.  They are real yoyoers in terms of form – November started with four defeats, but ended in two wins taking them into December where they lost only once – at home to Portsmouth.

January for them has been a mixed bag but more negative – defeats away at Leeds and Norwich in the FA Cup, followed up with a win away at Middlesbrough.  Derby were their last opponents at Turf Moor where they ground out draw with Nigel Clough’s men.  They come to us on transfer deadline day, so we might well find certain players turning out for the last time in the Garibaldi before putting their names to contracts with other clubs.

Having started January with a win at Ipswich, and subsequently recommenced the awful run of neither winning nor scoring goals, perhaps a glimmer of hope is offered by actually bagging a goal against West Ham in our last outing.  Then again, we’ve had glimmers of hope before – they need to start shining a little more brightly if we are to haul ourselves from the drop zone.  Our last win at the City Ground was the middle of November, also – embarrassingly – against Ipswich Town.

With a ticket offer available there might be a slightly larger crowd than the evening fixture and general malaise would ordinarily have garnered.  I can’t say that I’m particularly enjoying the prospect of freezing my proverbials off whilst enduring what promises to be another laboured exchange at the City Ground.  It’s not going to be an easy game against Eddie Howe’s men, particularly if it’s true that Wes Morgan won’t be a Forest player by then (being suggested as I type that he’s off for a medical at Leicester tomorrow).

So, maybe this means Moussi back in defence or perhaps Lascelles will get an opportunity to taste some first team action.  He should not be the only youngster under consideration too, given Patrick Bamford’s nine-goals-in-two-games haul in the youth cup recently he must be at least in Cotterill’s thoughts for his goal-shy team, mustn’t he?  I’ve no idea whether he’s ‘ready’ or not – but my god we could do with some goals, and he seems to be in the mood for ‘em.

As ever, it seems, I don’t hold much hope for much positivity from the Reds – but as ever I’m hopeful that they can somehow conspire to prove me wrong and start to show signs of having the drive and capability to drag us out of trouble.  It is starting to feel rather like a forlorn hope, but having had a bit of time out from the pressures and more time to work with Sean O’Driscoll on the training ground perhaps there might be better times to come.

On a completely unrelated but very sad note I read in the news that Colin Tarrant had died – I’ve got really happy memories of his role as Brian Clough in the local play ‘The Spirit of the Man’ written by Stephen Lowe.  Probably more famous for his role in ‘The Bill’ – but I never saw that!  For his Brian Clough role he’d worked well on the mannerisms and voice and really gave – appropriately enough – spirit to the character.  Up there with Michael Sheen’s Clough for me (in both cases, in productions I wasn’t massively fond of in truth!).  Rest in peace, Colin.

Our next probable defeat will come at the hands of West Ham United at Upton Park.  Whilst the motivation of labouring our way out of the drop zone and perhaps salvaging a bit of personal pride ought to be motivation enough for our lads, Sam Allardyce’s side have the opportunity to claim the top spot that could be theirs with a third successive win in the league.

The only absentees for Big Sam are the longish term injury victims of Guy Demel and Matt Taylor, both players have returned to training with the Hammers, but aren’t likely to be fit enough to be risked against us.  Well, let’s face it, they probably are – but given the other options at their disposal it would seem an unnecessary risk!

We are without Chambers, who serves the second game of his three match suspension, and are still missing Wes Morgan, Chris Cohen and Ishmael Miller through injury.  Tuds is likely to feature again, and perhaps after his ill-conceived Twitter tantrum Matt Derbyshire might have talked himself out of an opportunity to prove himself to be something other than the lightweight diving sod that we’ve seen so far. (I wish I’d screen-capped his tweet too!!).

Of course, we do have the former-player factor in our favour – Marlon Harewood of course left his first spell at Forest to hook up with West Ham United back in 2003.  He netted a goal every two and a bit games for them, admittedly at a time when youth was still on his side and he could last a full game, but y’never know!  If we play anything like we did on Tuesday though we’ll see the kind of shoe-ing that West Ham dished out at the City Ground back in August.

I would be delighted, as ever, to be proven wrong – but I can’t see much past a comfortable win for the home side here unless Sean O’Driscoll can have a really fast impact on our moody squad, or indeed the supposedly interesting news that Paul Taylor has been teasing his followers on Twitter over that might transpire tomorrow.  Maybe Stan Collymore is going to come out of retirement and roll back the years working under Frank Clark once again.

Hmm. Maybe not.  Frankly, a point here would be a delightful surprise – three would make me a little bit delirious!

Patrick Bamford: Scored more goals tonight than any of our senior players have managed all season

In the meantime the youngsters have just netted their eighth goal against Wigan courtesy of Osborn.  Well done lads, I might forgo my season ticket in future and start following the youth team!  Sorry, make that 9-1. Bamford with a fifth goal – that’s indicative of a real winning mentality right there – so many goals up but still wanting more.  The senior players could learn a thing or two from our youngsters.

They’ve scored more goals in an hour than the first team have mustered in thirteen matches.  Full time score was 9-1.  Take a bow, lads, that really is excellent.

Sean: Not famous for hoof-ball, which is a start!

First I suppose I should welcome Sean O’Driscoll to Forest – I’m quite pleased with his arrival.  He might encourage a few of the team to, y’know, try passing it along the floor to their teammates occasionally.  Certainly he’s used to trying to make silk purses out of sow’s ears – and with not a particularly high level of investment.  Hopefully he will also provide a bit of support to Cotterill too who, despite being very much in my bad books, does cut a rather loan figure at the moment.

Back on to the prompt for this post – I think Twitter on the whole has been more of a curse than a blessing since it because uber popular within the football fan and player community – and out-of-favour Matt Derbyshire is demonstrating exactly why at the moment.  Obviously Cotterill was quite quick to (rightly) moderate his squad on Twitter – Matt today has directed his followers to a third party to hand out abuse to the manager on his behalf, it seems.

If you check out the person in question, Scott Parsons, he’s basically been posting a tirade of abuse aimed at Cotterill for having the audacity to not pick Derbyshire.  A player who, you may agree, has not exactly demonstrated prowess or a decent work ethic (aside from his efforts at diving) when he has been given a chance in the side.  I happen to agree we’ve seen too little of him, but perhaps some of these comments his friend has been posting for him indicate why.

This is indicative of serious dressing-room unrest, and for a player to signpost things like this against their manager is potentially very damaging, and might well betray wider-spread ill-feeling.  With rumours of transfer requests going in, it doesn’t seem unfeasible does it – although who would want to buy these players on the basis of unprofessionalism like this coupled with below-par performances is difficult to guess.

Whilst much like many Forest fans I too have levelled criticisms at Cotterill, I do acknowledge we’re kinda stuck with him – and he’s kinda stuck with at least one player who is openly undermining him.  Then he wonders why he isn’t getting picked (in addition to his cameo appearances of swan-diving to the floor under little or no contact from opponents).

Say what you like about the dreaded transfer acquisition panel, under its’ slow machinations we didn’t bring in many players to the fold who seem the type to stir up trouble and discord like this.  Another layer of factors that are making times at Forest doubly hard.  Wind your neck in, Derbyshire, knuckle down in training and prove to the manager and us that you are worthy of your place – because no bugger is going to want to buy you in a hurry.  More’s the pity.

Whatever reservations I have about the gaffer, it is increasingly apparent that the ‘don’t give a shit’ attitude that we perceive from the stands amongst our playing staff is very much alive and well, which is frankly shameful.  Where is your pride, some of you?  You are supposed to be professional athletes and are earning a handsome salary for the privilege – how about you start acting like it?

So, Leicester are on quite rubbish form – we are worse.  Arguably a positive development for us is the suspension of Luke Chambers after his red card at the weekend (a bit mean, I know, but he could do with a break if nothing else).  The promise of a fourth round tie at home to Swindon Town awaits the victor.  I read somewhere amusing that Forest will conspire to beat Leicester purely because a home defeat to Swindon would result in the bigger embarrassment.

It feels a bit like that.

Anyway, like us, Leicester lost at the weekend – although they did score, losing 2-1 at home to Barnsley.  We, of course, rolled over and gave Southampton the freedom of the City Ground, but for a late resurgence from Lee Camp it could’ve been much worse than 3-0.  Indeed, had Southampton actually put in a proper shift it could’ve been worse too.  It doesn’t bode well.

Chambers being out at least prevents Cotterill from playing Greening and Moussi in midfield, because it’s likely the Frenchman will need to drop back to partner Joel Lynch in defence.  This might offer a way back in for George Boateng who – despite an impressive performance at Ipswich – has found himself once again on the fringes of the squad.  Maybe that other forgotten man Majewski will get a game?

I’m struggling to remember a game since the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy days that I was less enthusiastic about.  If Forest have the same attitude and endeavour as they had at the weekend then even a side on as ropey a run as Leicester will capitalise.  And frankly, it won’t be the end of the world.  I’ll be watching this one on ESPN, the idea of paying money and making an effort to watch Forest at the moment seems like an ask too far.

Prediction? I think we’ll get knocked out the cup – and I’m struggling to give much of a shit at the moment.  The lethargy, it seems, is contagious.

Having followed up our happy reunion with goalscoring at Ipswich with a goalless draw against Leicester in the cup, the Reds are – well – still not all that convincing a proposition at the moment.  Unless we happen to be playing a team in blue, from Suffolk, who are managed by Paul Jewell it seems.  We don’t have that kind of luxury on Saturday – and despite losing their last two league games to Bristol City (who’ve done the double over ‘em now!) and down at Brighton, I’m not as convinced that is enough to write them off as my mate seems to be.

On the player front we’ll be hoping that Greg Cunningham has recovered from a hamstring niggle that kept him out of the FA Cup game last weekend, although youngster Kieron Freeman acquitted himself well in that game, his inexperience and perhaps fatigue was starting to show towards the end.  Findley is still doubtful with his dodgy shoulder, whilst Miller’s mystery injury remains – and Cohen, Wes and Moloney are on the longer term crocked list.

As noted above, the significant team news for Southampton is the loss of Rickie Lambert, both their and the league’s top scorer – he hit a hattrick against us at St Mary’s.  I’ll be glad to not see him lining up against us!  Saints gaffer Adkins also has injury doubts over Jaidi, Seaborne and Chaplow.  New signing Tadanari Lee is unlikely to be available for selection due to complications of work permit acquisition.

Fans who went to the Q&A session with Steve Cotterill and Mark Arthur commented on the manager’s apparent high regard for Marcus Tudgay, and for the recently prevalent 4-2-3-1 formation – which would suggest that Harewood might have to content himself with a place on the bench.  We of course also have a couple of ex-Saints strikers waiting in the wings in the form of Dexter Blackstock and David McGoldrick (not to mention their former ‘keeper on the bench, too).

Those of us who ventured south for the reverse fixture earlier in the season under the reign of Schteve McClaren will recall a game that featured something that has been somewhat of a recurring theme in Forest games even in to Cotterill’s tenure.  Referees seem to have formed a pact to not give us penalties – there were several solid claims in that match, including one immediately before the home side grabbed the decisive goal.

Anyway, I digress.  I’m really hoping the home crowd can be rewarded for their patience with a goal or two – even if we have to endure the godawful goal music (I can’t even remember how it goes, anyway).  However, that’s a tough ask – and it’s difficult to imagine a side of Southampton’s undoubted quality to not pose us problems at the other end either.  Until I see a run of more convincing performances and results I’m afraid most of my concluding paragraphs will sound a bit like this…

Of course, it’s a little different down the A46 – 8,000 odd Foxes fans are expected in our fair city, not including those rumoured to have acquired tickets in the home ends.  Having eventually seen a Leiceister victory at the City Ground in the Carling Cup back in 2007 (remember, when we were winning with about 2 minutes to go yet still conspired to lose? Paul Smith scored for us!), missing out on a league win earlier in the season, so I guess an FA Cup win is another step toward that aim.

I need not mention our form really – we of course went 7 games without scoring, nestled either side of that were wins against Ipswich.  Our visitors haven’t exactly been pulling up trees either, so to speak.  They were five games without a win until snagging a 2-1 victory at Selhurst Park over Crystal Palace on Monday.  It would seem that Nigel Pearson has – much like Steve Cotterill – struggled to tangibly improve results after the departure of a costly ex-England manager.

On the team-news front it’s been confirmed that we have international clearance to field Marlon Harewood for his first appearance in a Forest shirt for over eight years.  He’s signed up ’til the end of the season after his contract in China came to an end.  Joel Lynch is available following his suspension, whilst Paul Anderson and Dexter Blackstock have come through their latest injuries.  Findley is a doubt with his gammy shoulder, leaving Choen, Miller, Morgan and Moloney on the longer-term crocked list.

Leicester will be missing targetman Steve Howard who was sent off against Crystal Palace earlier this week, and Gelson Fernedes whose season-long loan from Saint Etienne was prematurely terminated.  They will also be without Sol Bamba and John Pantsil who check in with their respective international sides for the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.  Liam Moore is cup-tied having played in an earlier round for Bradford City whilst on loan.  Former Red loanee Paul Konchesky has returned to training following an injury so may be fit to play.

If I were Steve Cotterill I’d have the dilemma of perhaps trying to build on the Ipswich momentum and fielding a strong team (such as we have, admittedly, given the injuries!), or – and probably more likely – not risking too much and giving some youngsters and opportunity to play.  A cup run is all well and good, but it’s a distraction and a potential source of yet more injuries, of course it’s also a source of revenue – which is all the more important in the post-sugar-daddy age at Forest.

So I’m quite glad it’s the gaffer with the difficult choices and not me.  Leicester haven’t exactly impressed this season considering the expensively-assembled squad – but of course, we haven’t impressed to the power of ten, so this is one of those games that could go either way.  With an attendance perhaps illustrative of the disenchantment many fans are feeling, coupled with a large away following, it will be a strange City Ground the players run out to.

Obviously it’s difficult to wish for anything other than a Forest win, and the promise of a more interesting draw in the fourth round, but I can’t help but feel that we could do without the distraction of a cup run and focus on what is a dire league position we are facing.  The devil in me hopes Steve Cotterill rests as many key players as injury allows and tests out some youngsters (and Marlon) – and if they triumph, do the same again in the fourth round.

It could be a useful proving ground to see who in the reserves and youth set up might be ready to step up to the plate and help our league campaign.  Given the unpredictability of Cotterill’s approach to selection for this game, along with the fact that both Forest and Leicester are quite difficult teams to predict anyway, I’m going to abstain from anything other than making the rather blithe observation that ‘it could go either way’.

Forest have, at times, shown desire and drive over the last few games, but frankly have not given opposing goalkeepers much to do at all.  Our last game against Cardiff was a great example of this – dominated possession, territory and ‘pressure’ – but didn’t make their keeper have a single genuinely uncomfortable moment all game (aside from the opening minutes where he fouled Findley).  Despite being the poorer team, Cardiff brought a save from Camp, missed a golden chance and scored.  Therein lies the difference.

Ipswich are a real chalk or cheese team – a seven goal losing streak featured earlier in the season (including our win against them), but then an amazing fightback against Barnsley was followed by a win over Derby.  That said, like us they saw out 2011 with a defeat – in their case at the hands of Reading at the Madejski Stadium.  I don’t much rate Jewell as a manager, but alas fear he might have the edge over Cotterill on the ability stakes.

To add to recent injury woes we have doubts over Robbie Findley, who suffered a problem with his shoulder after an awkward fall early in the Cardiff game.  Joel Lynch picked up his fifth booking (frustrating – one more game and the suspension threshold increases) so misses this game through suspension, meaning Moussi is likely to be moved back to defence.  Dexter and Anderson are both doubts with their injuries, whilst of course the longer team crocks Miller, Cohen, Morgan and Moloney will all miss out.

There’s a slight chance that the Chinese FA and FIFA might have got Marlon Harewood’s paperwork sorted out in time for the 32 year old to make his second Forest debut, post-match yesterday Steve Cotterill rated this at about 50:50 – so by no means a guarantee – meaning that we are increasingly picking through the dregs of our striking options.  After a passionless and effortless showing from Derbyshire yesterday I’m hoping young Bamford gets himself a start.

Our hosts are in reasonably fine fettle on the injury front – although will be without their top scorer Keith Andrews, a midfielder on loan from Blackburn.  Their recent two wins look increasingly like a blip with a draw and a defeat in their most recent results, and we know only too well from the City Ground encounter that – much like us – their defence is prone to comedic lapses that result in goals conceded.

If we want to get the ‘not-scoring-goals’ monkey off our back, then there are few opponents more likely to oblige, Ipswich have only kept six clean sheets all season in the league, only one in their last ten games.  Unfortunately we too have only kept six clean sheets all season – two of which came in our last ten games – so whilst we might well break our goalless streak, by the same ‘logic’ it seems highly likely we’ll concede too.

We really need a win to ease pressure on players and manager alike – and of course to provide a spark of hope to an increasingly bleak looking league table.  Unfortunately I just can’t envisage that actually happening.  Sorry to continue a theme of depressing predictions of late, but there you go!  I might start sticking a tenner on Forest to lose each game just to have something to cheer me up come full time – either making a spot of cash or seeing us snag at least a point!