Nottingham Forest are looking to continue their perfect start to 2022 as bottom of the table Barnsley come to the City Ground on Tuesday evening.
Forest have played three, won three so far this year with a win against Arsenal in the FA Cup and wins against Millwall and Derby in the league.
Top scorer Lewis Grabban has scored in every one of those games including the winners against Arsenal and Millwall.
Head coach Steve Cooper told club media yesterday: “It’s been a positive training ground for a while and it’s always good after three points.
“The balance is good, the boys are feeling really positive about themselves, but at the same time they are focused on trying to pick up another three points tomorrow.
“We know that we have done some good things recently, but it only means something if you keep building on it.
“This is not the time to be looking back, this is the time to be thinking what’s next, that’s where everyone’s mentality has to be.”
Forest are eighth in the league and just four points off Huddersfield in the final playoff place, and they have a game in hand on The Terriers.
Barnsley are rock bottom of the Championship and only have two wins so far this season having not won in the league since they beat Derby at the start of November, a run of nine league games without a win.
They are level on points with Derby with two games in hand including tonight’s match.
The Tykes lost 2-1 at Birmingham on Saturday leaving them nine points from safety, whilst Forest come into the game off the back of a big win against rivals Derby County.
This game was originally meant to be played on 3 January, but was postponed due to Covid and injuries in the Forest squad.
Barnsley made a request for this game to be postponed due to injuries and illness in their squad but the EFL rejected it.
The Reds won the reverse fixture at The Oakwell Stadium 3-1 thanks to goals from Philip Zinckernagel, Brennan Johnson and Grabban.
A Cauley Woodrow penalty had put Barnsley 1-0 up after 20 minutes but Forest recovered with three second half goals.
Cooper confirmed that Forest will be without key defender Joe Worrall for the next six weeks after he collided with the goalpost at Millwall and broke three ribs.
Cooper will be hoping that his side can build on their recent good form and put further pressure on the teams in the playoff places above them.
The game kicks off at 19:45 and is live on Sky Sports, whilst tickets are still available at https://t.co/DP5VwPIv1g .
