Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper names his team to face Birmingham City

Head coach Steve Cooper once again names an unchanged Nottingham Forest starting line-up for this afternoon’s clash with Birmingham City.

The Reds go into the match having made it two wins from two since returning from the international break. And they will be looking to cement their place in the top six when they take on the Blues at the City Ground.

Goals from Brennan Johnson and James Garner clinched an important three points for Cooper’s men in midweek as they toppled Coventry City 2-0. That victory made it nine league games unbeaten for Forest, and lifted them up to fifth in the Championship table.

The Reds boss had stuck with the same XI which had thumped Blackpool when he picked his side to face the Sky Blues on Wednesday night. He did face some tough selection decisions for today’s fixture, as players have impressed from off the bench, but for the third match running goes with an identical team.

With centre-back Steve Cook still sidelined with injury, Cooper sticks with the three-man defence of Joe Worrall, Tobias Figueiredo and Scott McKenna, ahead of goalkeeper Brice Samba. Jack Colback again fills in at left wing-back for Max Lowe, who is also ruled out of action, and Djed Spence continues on the right.

Garner and Ryan Yates keep their places in the centre of the pitch. And Philip Zinckernagel and Brennan Johnson support Keinan Davis in attack.

Making up the substitutes’ bench are Ethan Horvath, Richie Laryea, Lewis Grabban, Sam Surridge, Alex Mighten, Cafu and Joe Lolley.

Samba; Worrall, Figueiredo, McKenna; Spence, Yates, Garner, Colback; Johnson, Davis, Zinckernagel. Subs: Horvath, Laryea, Grabban, Surridge, Mighten, Cafu, Lolley.