The Harriers start their Cup campaign for this season with a toughie!

It's a shortish journey to Nottingham for the Worthington Cup 1st rd tie that see's us up against the fallen giants of the seventies.

Below is a history of the Brian Clough years and the honours that the great man bought them.

CLOUGH, EUROPE AND THE GLORY GAME (1975-1993)
The Clough era began on 6 January 1975.  At first Clough's influence was limited by budget.  He appointed Jimmy Gordon, who had been with him at Derby and Leeds, as first team coach.  In February he bought John O'Hare and John McGovern from Leeds.  Next, Clough brought John Robertson and Martin O'Neill back into the fold, following their transfer requests under the Allan Brown regime.  The end of season saw Frank Clark arrive on a free transfer from Newcastle.

The process of rejuvenation was cemented by the arrival, in July 1976, of Peter Taylor.  Having resigned from Brighton, Taylor became Forest's Assistant Manager.  It was from here that the real success began.

One year later, Clough and Taylor had their original 4 year contracts extended by an additional year, a year which saw them set about reinforcing a squad that was to embark on an adventure which was to bring the highest accolades in both the Domestic and European Competitions to The City Ground.

The team saw the arrival of Kenny Burns, Larry Lloyd, Peter Shilton, Colin Barrett and David Needham, and dreams were beginning to become reality.  It had taken just two years for Forest to begin the 1978-79 season with four major trophies in their sights:
The Championship, League Cup, FA Cup and the European Cup.

Roll of Honour : 1978 - 1980
Football League Champions - Division One 1978
FA Charity Shield Winners 1978
Football League Cup Winners 1978
European Champion Cup Winners 1979
Football League Cup Winners 1979
Football League Division One -Runners Up 1979
European Champion Cup Winners 1980
European Super Cup Winners 1980
Football League Cup Winners Runners Up 1980

The much-heralded partnership of Clough and Taylor came to an end in 1980.  The 1981-82 season was to witness a new era, one to further legitimise Brian Clough's legendary place in the history of Nottingham Forest Football Club.

The decline began!
Taken from the official Nottingham Forest website

So this is what we are up against tonight.  A team that were the Liverpool of their day.

We are going to have to do it without Abdou Sall and Dean Bennett again because they will still not be fit after recent foot injuries.  Also missing may be Lee Ayres and Adie Smith.  Smith is suffering from hamstring trouble while Ayres has a knee injury picked up in the game against Boston on Saturday and will be doubtful.

It'll be interesting to see what Ian Britton comes up with as a defence.

We have only ever played Forest once before and that was in last season's Youth Cup when the youngsters went down 3-0 at the City Ground.

Click here for that match report

Two of that side have now graduated to the fringes of the first team.  Scott Lower and Inderpaul Khela may even find themselves on the bench tonight.


Forest are now on hard times and have become a selling club.  They have recently sold future England hopeful Jermaine Jenas to Newcastle Utd for £5m.  Stern John to Birmingham City and Chris Bart-Williams to Charlton Athletic.

They've bought in a few new faces.  The main one being former Coventry striker Eoin Jess.  It was thought he may be missing for this game with a groin strain but this has now cleared up and he'll be playing tonight.

The other new ones are mainly young players been bought for the future.

Marlon Harewood is suffering from a dead leg while Des Walker is suffering from a virus.  Former Aston Villa defender Riccardo Scimeca has been troubled with a sore hamstring all week but that has cleared up .

Forest will be without Gareth Williams who has a groin strain and Jon Olav Hjelde, who is banned for the red card he received in last month's 2-1 defeat at Walsall.

We might be in with a chance against this Division One side and if Cheltenham can do it to Norwich then why can't we.

Teams

Harriers from:
Brock, Danby, Joy, Stamps, Ayres, Smith, Hinton, Williams, Parrish, Flynn, Shilton, Ducros, Doyle, Foster, Broughton, Henriksen, Lewis.

Forest from:
Ward, Roche, Formann, Louis-Jean, Brennan, Prutton, Jess, Johnson, Lester, Doig, Reid, Bopp, Thompson, Edwards, Scimeca, Dawson, Cash, Westcarr, Jones, Foy, Vaughan.