Graphics of the weekend viewing Keble Matchweek 35
From Forest's good returns to Paqueta's new role, Alex Keble breaks down the key takeaways before the weekend
Alex Keble reviews key talking points from Match Week 35.
Now or never for Forest
After a painful 1-2 loss to Brentford, where Nottingham Forest led until the 82nd minute, Steve Cooper must know it's now or never.
Winning at home against the bottom team Southampton is very necessary. Anything less would be a blow to their chances of safety.
Forest need to find another win somewhere, and with 80% of their points taken at the City Ground - and with Arsenal, their only remaining home game - Cooper's side are running out of space to maneuver. . That's really it.
The last six
Group Pos Pl GD Pts
15 WH 34 -13 34
16 RATE 34 -13 30
17 LE 34 -24 30
18 Non-profit organizations 34 -32 30
19 WAIT 34 -25 29
20 AFTER 34 -32 24
Fortunately for the hosts, now is the right time to face Southampton, who have won 2 of their first 3 games under Ruben Selles but are currently on a nine-match unbeaten run.
Furthermore, Forest's only away success this season has been a 1-0 win at St Mary's Stadium, and Forest have resurfaced in recent weeks.
Starting with a narrow 3–2 defeat to Liverpool, Cooper's side looked rejuvenated, scoring six goals in three games and losing only to Brentford by a tight margin; stories about their seasons.
Forest have been beaten by a single goal in the Premier League seven times this season, including three of their last six matches. They took the lead but failed to win three times in April, losing two of those games.
Cooper's side need a little more luck to push the boundaries this weekend and revive their thrust to avoid relegation. But with Sam Allardyce at Leeds United and Dean Smith improving at Leicester City, even three points here may not be enough.
Villa in need of restoration
A 1-0 loss to Manchester United last weekend ended Aston Villa's 10-match unbeaten run in the Premier League and it was also the first time they failed to score under Unai Emery.
Now tied on points with Tottenham Hotspur and likely to take a penalty shootout for seventh place against Spurs next weekend, Villa needs an immediate recovery. Wolverhampton Wanderers is not an ideal opponent.
Emery has won only one of six times against fellow Spaniard Julen Lopetegui. Their last three meetings - including one in La Liga earlier this season - have all ended 1-1, suggesting the two coaches may know too much about each other.
Wolves' 0-6 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend could have given Villa the lead, but Lopetegui's side are significantly better at home.
Their last three Premier League games at Molineux have totaled 5-0, thanks largely to the interaction between Matheus Cunha and Diego Costa, who have just started together in a 4-4-2 formation. wolf training
Wolves can form a 4-4-2 formation with Cunha and Costa in two attacks
Emery will certainly have a unique plan to keep these two quiet, but as Villa start to slow down - their 1-0 win over Fulham lacks some of the versatility of earlier games in the game. race – a hard-working Wolves will love their chance to decline Villa's victory is good.
Big Sam, short time
Leeds United's appointment of Sam Allardyce is just another turning point in the Premier League's strangest season.
For many, it seems that the last vestige of Marcelo Bielsa's legacy at Elland Road is disappearing and Leeds players and fans alike are dealing with a culture shock.
Everyone understands why the Leeds management chose the fireman to be a fireman. But
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