Video: Montanier says the Forest squad remain focused on football despite off-field matters
Nottingham Forest manager Philippe Montanier has said that he and the squad remain focused on the football despite off-field unrest.
This comes after the Guardian published an article detailing financial demands made by Fawaz Al-Hasawi in takeover negotiations for the club, claims which he has denied.
However Montanier says that he and the squad are solely focused on matters on the pitch and trying to get three points against Cardiff this weekend.
The Reds play the Bluebirds at the City Ground tomorrow (Saturday October 22) at 5.30pm; Forest currently sit 17th in the Sky Bet Championship with Cardiff City the relegation places in 22nd, just three points off of the home team.
They’re at the bottom but the table is not always the reality
Speaking about what he expects from Cardiff, Montanier said: “They have a tough energy; they played very well in the last two games.
“They’re complicated to play and it will be tough but we know that; they’re at the bottom but we know that sometimes the table rank is not the reality.
“They’ve got four points out of the last six so we don’t take into the account where they are.”
Video: Chris Cohen on having a good team spirit
Midfielder Chris Cohen is also mindful of the threat that Cardiff will bring but is hoping that the Reds can bounce back from a bad result like they have already done this season.
He said: “In their past couple of games they’ve not had much possession but they’ve had really good results, they like to sit in and they keep a good shape.
“Their main striker is Rickie Lambert who has been at Liverpool and West Brom in the past couple of seasons and they now have a manager who has potential to take them up the league, so it shows they’re in a false position.
“We have proved that we can perform when we’re under pressure as we did against Birmingham so it would be nice to do that again at home in front of the cameras.”
Video: Richard Antcliff on the potential protest at the game this weekend
There could be a protest at the game according to interim chair of the Nottingham Forest Supporters’ Trust Richard Antcliff.
He said: “There are talks of protests and banners; that will happen this Saturday in front of the cameras.
“There’s certainly nothing sponsored or planned by the Trust but people will have their say.
“All we would say is get it out the way and let’s get behind the team as three points will be really important.”
Nottingham Forest record v Cardiff City
Played: 50
Won: 14
Drawn: 11
Lost: 25
The last time the two teams met was in the 50th encounter between the two clubs which ended with honours even in a Sky Bet Championship clash.
The game finished 1-1 at the Cardiff City Stadium on December 29 2015 after Oliver Burke’s early strike was cancelled out by a goal from the Bluebirds’ Aron Gunnarsson.
The last time the two teams met at the City Ground saw Cardiff come away with all three points after securing a 2-1 win.
Kenwyne Jones and Joe Mason netted for Cardiff before Michail Antonio scored what turned out to be nothing more than a consolation goal as the Bluebirds held on.
