Nottingham Forest head away to Blackpool on Saturday as they bid to make it three wins from three for new manager Dougie Freedman.
Freedman took the helm at Forest after a whirlwind weekend which saw predecessor Stuart Pearce ‘relieved of managerial duties’ following a one nil home loss to Millwall, with ex Forest striker Freedman announced as his successor only a few hours later.
After the loss to the Lions, Forest sat in 12th place on 34 points, closer to a relegation battle than being part of the race for promotion. Owner Fawaz Al-Hasawi took a huge gamble in parting company with club icon Pearce. Pearce had not lost the backing of the fans and, despite sugar coating it by saying Pearce was ‘relieved of duties’and ‘offered an alternative role’, sacking Stuart Pearce could easily have upset the Trent side faithful.
Furthermore with the club under transfer embargo, for breach of financial fair play regulations, parting ways with a manager who has extensive scouting networks monitoring the youth of the nation, and experience coaching numerous high quality young talents could be considered near sighted. Bosman signings of premier league youngsters, or loans of the countries rising stars is far less likely as a result.
Undeterred, Hasawi stuck by his convinction and brought in Dougie Freedman. The gamble appears to be paying off. Freedman guided Forest to a 3-2 victory over Brighton in his first game, and then followed it with a resounding 3-0 win over Wigan in his first home game in charge. The results have taken the Reds up to 10th place and ten points clear of the relegation zone.
In 2013/14 the magic number for survival was 44 points. The strong start made by the Scot, Freedman, has certainly eased relegation fears which were increasing and pushed Nottingham Forest much closer to securing Championship football for 2015/16.
A win against the seasiders on Saturday will give Forest 43 points, one shy of last years required total and plunge the Tangerines closer to the Championship trap door.
Blackpool currently occupy 24th place in the league, ten points adrift of safety and 20 points behind their opponents.
Forest go into the game as bookies favourites, but the loss of 15 goal striker Britt Assombalonga severely hampers the midland club’s firepower.
Freedman is making the right noises so far, if he can keep the early form going Forest will certainly maintain their championship status.
Can they make a charge for the playoffs?
The Reds finished last season in 10th with 65 points. To replicate that, Freedman will need to win eight and draw one of Forest’s remaining fixtures. They need an impressive win ratio of 55% just to repeat last season’s finish, so the playoffs may be a bridge too far.
The championship remains an unpredictable beast, stranger things have happened. It certainly does seem at this early stage that Forest’s gamble is paying dividends.
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