Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest v Swansea
Table-toppers Nottingham Forest are hopeful that midfielder James Perch will recover from a shin injury. Gary Holt will play despite a knee problem, but Danny Cullip and Ross Gardner are out with thigh injuries. Swansea expect to be unchanged, with goalkeeper Andy Oakes retaining his place ahead of Willy Gueret. Lee Trundle, Kristian O'Leary, Kevin Austin (all hamstring) and Garry Monk (knee) are all missing, while striker Adebayo Akinfenwa (shin) is doubtful.

Forest recall defender Fernandez
Nottingham Forest have recalled defender Vincent Fernandez from his loan spell at Wycombe Wanderers. The 20-year-old Frenchman spent six weeks at Adams Park and has decided to end his spell halfway into his three-month deal. \"Vinnie was disappointed not to be playing but with the lads doing well it was difficult for him to break into the side,\" said assistant boss Steve Brown. Fernandez joined Forest as a trainee in 2005 and has made just one start.

Gillingham v Nottm Forest
Gillingham pair Alan Pouton (ankle) and Danny Jackman (food poisoning) both face late fitness tests ahead of the visit of the League One leaders. Andrew Crofts will play and Gary Mulligan (ankle) may feature, but Brent Sancho and Kelvin Jack are still out. Nottingham Forest welcome back Sammy Clingan and Junior Agogo, but striker Jack Lester is out through suspension. Gary Holt will continue to play through the pain, but Scott Dobie, Ross Gardner and Nathan Tyson are all still missing.

Gillingham 0-1 Nottm Forest
Nicky Southall scored against his former club as Nottingham Forest earned a hard-fought victory at Gillingham. Southall struck in the second half, ghosting in at the back post to convert Kris Commons' left-wing centre. Gillingham should have already been ahead, Southall clearing Ian Cox's header off the line and Mark Bentley pulling a shot agonisingly wide. Forest keeper Paul Smith saved well from Matt Jarvis as the visitors held on to stay top of League One. Gillingham: Flinders, Jupp, Cox (Howell 85), Johnson, Easton, Bentley, Flynn (Savage 87), Crofts, Jarvis, Mulligan (McDonald 65), Ndumbu-Nsungu. Subs Not Used: Jackman, Collin. Nottm Forest: Smith, Curtis, Morgan, Breckin, Southall, Gary Holt, Perch, Bennett, Commons (Clingan 63), Harris (Grant Holt 72), Agogo (Cullip 86). Subs Not Used: Thompson, Pedersen. Goal: Southall 57. Att: 7,800 Ref: A D'Urso (Essex).

Southall is happy to show respect
Nottingham Forest midfielder Nicky Southall admits it would have been inappropriate for him to celebrate his goal against former club Gillingham. Southall, who made over 130 appearances in two spells for the Gills, struck the winner in Forest's 1-0 win on Saturday. \"It just wouldn't have been in the right spirit to celebrate the goal,\" Southall told SSB. \"I've got a lot of feelings for the club and their fans have been fabulous to me, so I couldn't have done that.\"

Forest manager to rotate strikers
Nottingham Forest manager Colin Calderwood says he plans to continue rotating his strikers. Neil Harris and Junior Agogo started up front on Saturday in the 1-0 win against Gillingham. Jack Lester was suspended this weekend, while Grant Holt came on as a second half substitute. Calderwood told SSB: \"We have good strikers and the system of rotating them keeps them fresh and is working, so we'll keep doing it.\"

Nottm Forest v Bristol City
Leaders Nottingham Forest will be without midfielder Gary Holt (knee) for second-placed Bristol City's visit. Holt will be out for a month, while Scott Dobie, Ross Garnder and Nathan Tyson are still all missing for Forest. Bristol City defender Jamie McAllister is suspended for the trip to the City Ground, so Liam Fontaine and Craig Woodman come back into contention. Steve Brooker (knee) faces a further two weeks out of action and doubts remain over Enoch Showunmi's fitness.

Nottm Forest 1-0 Bristol City
A superb free-kick by Nicky Southall earned victory over Bristol City and gave Nottingham Forest a five-point cushion at the top of League One. But City made them battle all the way for the maximum reward and it took something special for Forest to break the deadlock. Southall scored a delighful 22-yard free-kick in the eighth minute after Neil Harris had been brought down. Paul Smith twice made saves from Phil Jevons to keep Forest in front. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nottm Forest: Smith, Cullip, Morgan, Breckin, Perch, Southall, Clingan, Curtis, Commons (Bennett 75), Agogo (Grant Holt 67), Harris (Thompson 82). Subs Not Used: Pedersen, Lester. Goals: Southall 9. Bristol City: Basso, Orr (Keogh 59), McCombe, Carey, Woodman, Murray, Skuse, Johnson, Brown (Wright 59), Jevons (Fontaine 78), Myrie-Williams. Subs Not Used: Federici, Russell. Booked: Carey. Att: 23,466 Ref: M Halsey (Lancashire).

Calderwood praises Forest spirit
Nottingham Forest manager Colin Calderwood was delighted with his side's spirit in the 1-0 win over fellow promotion hopefuls Bristol City. \"Our character showed. My players never lack desire,\" Calderwood beamed. \"We came to a shuddering halt against Scunthorpe (losing 4-0) but we've put ourselves back in a good position and the boys can be very proud. \"City put us under a lot of pressure late on it was a real barrage but we stood firm.\"

Three charged over football clash
Three men have been charged following a violent confrontation between Bristol City and Nottingham Forest fans after a League One clash. The trouble broke out on Radcliffe Road, Nottingham, shortly after the match on Saturday afternoon. The three are all charged with football related violent disorder. Mark Berrett, 44, of Trowbridge, Wilts, Gary Andrews, 41, of Weston-super-Mare, North Soms and a Bristol youth, 17, are to appear before magistrates on Friday. The nearby Amici wine bar was damaged and a police horse received minor injuries during the incident. Chief Superintendent Peter Moyes of Nottinghamshire Police said CCTV footage of the area is being examined and more arrests are expected to follow. Police are also investigating a minor incident where two Bristol men were arrested on public order offences at the Casa bar on Trent Bridge before the match.

Tyson set to start full training
Nottingham Forest striker Nathan Tyson is set to return to full training next week and hopes to return to action early next month. Tyson has been on the sidelines since the opening day of the season when he sustained a knee ligament injury. He told the club website: \"Things are going really well. I should be training next and will hopefully be involved in the reserve team against Birmingham. \"The injury could have been a lot worse and I'm just thankful it wasn't.\"

Thompson joins Tranmere on loan
Nottingham Forest defender John Thompson has joined League One rivals Tranmere Rovers on a month's loan. Rovers boss Ronnie Moore made his move for the 25-year-old after losing Robbie Stockdale with a hamstring injury. \"He's an experienced defender who adds height and speed to the defence. He can play along the back and in midfield,\" Moore told the club website. Thompson can also play for Tranmere in the FA Cup first round, as long as the two clubs are not drawn together.

Cheltenham v Nottm Forest
Cheltenham have no fresh injury worries ahead of the visit of league leaders Nottingham Forest. Steven Gillespie (leg fracture), Jamie Victory (pelvis) and Ashley Vincent (knee) are still out, however. Nottingham Forest name an unchanged side as they search for a third successive league victory. But midfielder Gary Holt is still recovering from knee cartilage surgery and Scott Dobie is still on his way back to fitness after a thigh problem.

Platt to sue former club Forest
Nottingham Forest have confirmed that the club is being sued by ex-manager David Platt. The ex-England player has issued a writ over a £50,000 bonus which he claims he was promised by former Forest chairman, Eric Barnes. The bonus is a performance-related payment for Platt's second season in charge when the team finished 11th in the Championship. Platt left the City Ground in 2001 to manage the England Under-21s. The Nottingham club are refusing to pay and would only comment to confirm that legal action had started. Platt recently won a claim for wrongful dismissal against the Football Association, who replaced him as Under 21-coach with Peter Taylor in 2004.

Cheltenham 0-2 Nottm Forest
Nicky Southall scored twice in the first half as Nottingham Forest won away again, this time at Cheltenham. The hosts nearly took a fortuitous lead when Mickey Bell's mis-hit cross slammed against the bar, before Paul Smith saved Grant McCann's volley. Southall notched his first just after the half-hour mark, latching on to Junior Agogo's pass and firing home. He settled it by bundling in at the far post after good work from Neil Harris, before Smith saved from Gavin Caines. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cheltenham: Higgs, Gill, Lowe, Duff (Odejayi 68), Bell (Wilson 54), Bird (Melligan 76), Finnigan, McCann, Armstrong, Caines, Spencer. Subs Not Used: Brown, Wylde. Booked: Duff, Spencer. Nott'm Forest: Smith, Breckin, Morgan, Cullip, Southall, Perch, Clingan, Commons (Lester 80), Curtis, Agogo (Grant Holt 86), Harris (Bennett 86). Subs Not Used: Pedersen, Hughes. Booked: Perch, Harris. Goals: Southall 32, 36. Att: 6,554. Ref: M Jones (Mansfield).

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