1 month ago
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Preamble
Friday night, who wants a fight? ? Not this peaceable Guardianista, that’s for sure, and not Nottingham Forest. They’re trying to flight a relegation conflict – and tin spell a agelong measurement towards achieving that if they triumph astatine Sunderland tonight.
Forest are 16th successful nan table, 5 points clear of Tottenham pinch 5 games remaining. This clip past twelvemonth they were fourth, but though nan alteration successful Forest’s convention position has made things a batch much complicated, their nonsubjective is fundamentally nan same: to play Champions League and Premier League shot adjacent season.
Forest play some legs of their humdinging Europa League semi-final against Aston Villa successful nan adjacent fortnight. A affirmative consequence astatine nan Stadium of Light would let them to clasp that without worrying astir what’s complete their shoulder.
At nan commencement of nan season, astir group agreed that Forest’s opponents were ne'er going to beryllium successful a relegation conflict travel precocious April. That’s because Sunderland were expected to beryllium agelong gone by now, pinch only their parachute for company,. An occasionally level 2nd half of nan play should not obscure a singular first play backmost successful nan Premier League, 1 of nan champion by a promoted squad successful nan past decade.
It’s not complete yet. Sunderland commencement nan crippled successful 11th but will move up to eighth – supra Chelsea, nan world nine champions – if they triumph tonight. Who knows, this clip adjacent twelvemonth they mightiness beryllium successful a European semi-final themselves.
Kick disconnected 8pm BST.
