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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Sarah Clapson

Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper names team to face Chelsea - with surprise change

Head coach Steve Cooper has named his Nottingham Forest team to face Chelsea in this afternoon’s key clash.

The Reds go into the game at Stamford Bridge eager to improve their dismal away form, having lost their last seven on the road in the league. They have been encouraged by recent performances against Liverpool and Brentford, however.

And spirits were boosted by Monday night’s dramatic 4-3 victory over Southampton at the City Ground. The win lifted Forest out of the relegation zone with three matches to go.

READ MORE: Follow the action live from Stamford Bridge

READ MORE: Henderson responds to Forest transfer critics and makes Chelsea admission

It remains very tight at the bottom of the table, though. Meanwhile, beating the Saints was accompanied by knocks to Serge Aurier and Renan Lodi, who were both forced off.

Both get the green light to feature in the capital, however. Cooper makes one change to the side which started earlier in the week, with Joe Worrall coming in for Brennan Johnson.

It means the Reds revert to a back three, with Worrall lining up alongside Felipe and Moussa Niakhate. Aurier and Lodi will take up wing-back roles.

Orel Mangala, Ryan Yates and Danilo keep their spots in midfield. And with Johnson on the bench, Morgan Gibbs-White and Taiwo Awoniyi will provide the attacking threat.

Wayne Hennessey, Jesse Lingard, Harry Toffolo, Sam Surridge, Cheikhou Kouyate, Remo Freuler, Andre Ayew and Willy Boly make up the list of substitutes. The latter made his comeback from a hamstring problem which has sidelined him since February when he came on for the final minutes on Monday.

Forest: Navas; Aurier, Worrall, Felipe, Niakhate, Lodi; Yates, Mangala, Danilo; Gibbs-White, Awoniyi. Subs: Hennessey, Lingard, Toffolo, Surridge, Johnson, Kouyate, Freuler, Boly, Ayew.

What do you make of the Forest line-up? Have your say in the comments below

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