Video: As a Spurs fan, Warburton wants to get one over Chelsea
Nottingham Forest manager and Spurs fan Mark Warburton has said he would love to get one over Chelsea as the Reds visit Stamford Bridge.
The Reds will play Chelsea for the first time in more than 10 years on Wednesday (September 20) as the two teams were drawn against each other in the third round of the Carabao Cup last month.
Forest have sold out their allocation of 4,025 tickets with all home tickets sold as well, meaning the match is a complete sell-out.
Chelsea posted a scout report of the Reds on their website saying Ben Osborne is a key player for the Reds and Liam Bridcutt is one to watch.
However Liam Bridcutt is cup-tied having already played in the Carabao Cup for Leeds United.
Mark Warburton thinks the Reds have more than enough strength in midfield to cope without being able to play Bridcutt.
Video: Warburton on preparing his squad for the Chelsea game
He said: “Osborn is a very talented player but we have Bouchalakis, we have Dowell, we have Clough, we have a number of players who can step in there.
“I’m delighted with that but we are playing a world class team – we have to deliver as high quality performance as we possibly can.
“I hope the random nature of the game goes our way as well.”
Nottingham Forest record v Chelsea
Played: 91
Won: 26
Drawn: 28
Lost: 37
The last time the two teams faced each other was in the fourth round of the FA Cup in 2007.
Nottingham Forest haven’t beaten Chelsea in more than 20 years when the Reds ran out 2-0 winners at the City Ground on January 11 1997.
Warburton revealed how he has been preparing the team to break their duck against the current Premier League champions and ‘there will be changes’.
He said: “The starters will go through a certain programme, the non-starters will go through more intense work.
“It’s just making sure you get the balance right – today we have worked 11v11, on set pieces, some sharp work, some bonding work, it’s what you do, we have to try and keep it consistent for the players.
“There will be some changes and it’s important to do that.
“We don’t view that as going with a weaker squad, far from it; it’s just using the squad and any changes we make will only be positive.”
