Steve Cooper and Alan Tate are in town with their rejuvenated Nottingham Forest squad. With only one loss from thirteen games since he took over Cooper is very much looking forward to this one. It’s the game of the day in the Championship and all eyes will be on SA1 today.
Russell Martin has done his homework meticulously as ever and that was evident in his assessment of this weekends task. "They’ve become very hard to beat and break down," said Martin. We have a lot of players here who played under Steve and were brought in. I’m sure for the players it’ll add a little edge. It is different to a lot of other games for them because of their relationship with the man who managed them for the last couple of years. They achieved two play-offs, one semi-final and a final. "For us, the coaches, it’s another game. We weren't here. I'm sure for the new players it’s just another game too, but for some of them, I’m sure there’ll be a little edge to it. When I played against a previous manager, you want to show you’re a really good player."
Martin is right, there will be an edge today, and there will be a keenly fought contest and irrespective of the teams selected there should be very little, if anything in this match. "They’ve kept quite a few clean sheets in the last few weeks and they have good players at the top end of the pitch. Lewis Grabban is someone I know well. Brennan Johnson we came up against last year. Everyone’s fit. Everyone’s trained really well. We’re all ready and raring to go," he added. "There was a game in the week for the guys who haven't played so many minutes recently” That’s an indication that we may well once again see changes for the swans, last week the swans defence was opened up for the only goal of the game at Middlesbrough, and that has to be avoided today. If Rhys Williams starts this game we will be very surprised. After two defeats in as many games this isn’t defining for Russell Martin, but another loss will see signs of restlessness in the stands today for sure.
Cooper on the other hand is guiding his Forest team through a very successful season. Deep in relegation trouble when he took over they are now comfortable in mid table and looking upwards instead of down. Some Forest fans are not too enamoured with the football but a nigh on 47% win rate is very decent. Cooper in his third season now as a manager in the championship continues to improve year on year. On the injury front Forest have two longer-term absentees in Rodrigo Ely (muscle) and Loic Mbe Soh (thigh). Elsewhere, Cooper says Max Lowe is ‘on the turn’ as he approaches what the Forest boss says is the midway point in his recovery from a groin injury, with Joe Lolley now back available after missing the last outing v Peterborough United. Jordi Osei-Tutu featured for Nottingham Forest’s U23 side this week as he steps up his recovery from a hamstring injury.
On his birthday Cooper seemed a bit tired of the ‘returning to Swansea ’ questions in the glare of this weeks media. Shaking his head he said. "I respect your job, there’s no midweek game so there’s not loads for you to write about… but I’ve said what I’ve said about Swansea, which will only ever, ever be positive. Whatever happens in the future, I will always be grateful and be positive about everything there. But everybody has moved on. Of course, we want to win on Saturday - just like they do for their reasons, and we do for our reasons. But I only wish everybody well there.”
Cooper made reference to ‘Jeremy Kyle’ type questions and asked to get back to talking football.
On the game itself Cooper stated "I’m not trying to underplay anything, but I’m just giving an honest view - I’m just really focused on the game for what it’s worth, whoever we were playing on Saturday, I’ll say again, I’m very grateful for my two years at Swansea and what it gave me, and how I was treated. That will never, ever change. But in terms of the game on Saturday, it is a game we are very much in the normal preparation mode for. That takes up my thinking. That’s my frame of mind anyway. I’m just focused on the game. I was very fond of the players, very fond of the staff, and had some excellent relationships. The supporters, okay, I didn’t see loads of them all the time because of the pandemic, but the ones who I did have interaction with or who sent letters, were excellent with me. I appreciate that”
It will be all smiles pre game for sure, two young managers with their own twist on the Swansea philosophy going head to head in front of a noisy crowd expecting a win. It has all the ingredients of a top championship clash, the winners if there is one will have to hold their nerve in front of goal, something the swans very much need to do today.
Swansea City v Nottingham Forest kicks of at 3pm UK time today. Join us for team news later.