A run of three successive home games ahead of the World Cup break makes November a big month for Nottingham Forest.
The Reds are bottom of the Premier League table, having picked up nine points from 13 matches. But, crucially, they are only three points behind 17th-placed Southampton, with plenty still to play for.
Forest will be trying to ensure they are in a better position by the time the season pauses later this month, or make sure they are at least still within touching distance of the teams above them. And that starts with targeting an improved performance, and result, against Brentford on Saturday.
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Few Reds players came out of last weekend’s 5-0 mauling at Arsenal with much credit. A dismal second half led to boss Steve Cooper criticising the lack of fight shown by his team.
That leaves the head coach with something of a dilemma for the City Ground clash with the Bees. Does he make sweeping changes in response to that thumping at the Emirates Stadium, or does he have faith in the players who had shown signs of making progress before the trip to the capital?
The only change Cooper made against the Gunners was to bring in Renan Lodi at left-back. That came despite Forest having kept successive clean-sheets, against Brighton and Hove Albion and Liverpool.
Neco Williams could consider himself a little hard done by to have been left out. And with Lodi having had a tough afternoon, it might be that the Wales international comes back into the team this weekend.
Cooper might also opt to mix things up in midfield. Lewis O’Brien made his comeback from illness on Sunday, so could be an option to make the XI, as could Orel Mangala, who has started once since returning from a hamstring injury.
Meanwhile, the Reds head coach has a problem to solve up front. Goals have been hard to come by this term - something which has to change if the club are to get themselves out of the hole they are in.
Jesse Lingard had the visitors’ two best chances at Arsenal, but was closer to hitting the corner flag than the target with one of them. The former Manchester United man is yet to make anything like the kind of impact it was hoped he would when he joined as a free agent in the summer.
He received plenty of stick from the home fans when he was hooked with less than an hour played last time out. Cooper must weigh up whether to stick with him or to turn to Brennan Johnson this weekend.
Whoever plays, Forest need to get back to the level of performance they showed to see off Liverpool. After facing Brentford, they have a Carabao Cup tie at home to Tottenham Hotspur, followed by a meeting with Crystal Palace in their final match before the break.
Predicted Forest XI: Henderson; Aurier, Cook, McKenna, Williams; Kouyate, Yates, Freuler; Johnson, Awoniyi, Gibbs-White.
How should Forest line up against Brentford? Have your say in the comments below
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