Forest, Forest, Forest, Forest, Forest, Forest, Forest, Forest,

Forest had an average start to life back in the Championship with 1 win, 1 draw & 1 defeat. The timely return of Nathan Tyson has given a massive boost to the fans & his partnership with Rob Earnshaw looks set to create havoc with opposition defences in the league. Forest may play a full strength team in this game as Colin Calderwood has been quoted as saying a good cup run will be good for the team. Coming into this game on the back of a 3 - 2 home win should give both the team & the fans a lift.






After starting the season with the usual injury crisis things seem to be clearing up slightly and the Reds will only be missing Wilson, McGugan, Anderson & Garner for this match but with the return of Tyson & Cole to the squad is already looking much better.

Forest fans.

• Should we take this competition seriously?
• With Earnshaw, Tyson & Cole fit which 2 should start or all 3?
• Don't forget you green top in memory of Cloughie

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Sunderland, Sunderland, Sunderland, Sunderland, Sunderland

Sunderland also had an average start to the season with a defeat to Liverpool & a solid 2 - 1 win over Tottenham. The arrival of Djibril Cisse will now make sure they score goals & should see them push on for a top half finish in the Premiership at least. Like Colin Calderwood, Roy Keane will be taking this competition seriously and will no doubt see this as a possible route into Europe for the Black Cats so again i expect to see a full strength team in this game.








Sunderland have further strengthened their squad with the arrival of Northern Ireland goal scoring machine David Healy who has 34 goals in just 64 games for his Country. With these two added to the earlier signing of Chimbonda, Tainio, Diouf & Malbranque they must be seen now as an established Premiership team.


Sunderland fans.

• Do you think you should take this competition seriously?
• With Cisse & Healy arriving do you think your spending is over?
• Don't forget you green top in memory of Cloughie

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History: Sunderland lead the way in league games with 36 wins from 86 games, Forest have won 28 with 22 draws. Sunderland are also way in the lead on goals with 134 goals compared to Forests 109 which works out at an average of almost 3 goals per game. We have only been drawn together once in the League cup with Sunderland winning 1 - 0 at Roker Park after a 1 - 1 draw at the City Ground but in F.A Cup games Forest lead the way with 4 wins to Sunderland's one (with 1 draw) with forest scoring 14 goals to Sunderland's 9.

Last 4 league games
28/12/04 Forest 1 - 2 Sunderland (Reid, Elliott, Stewart)
14/9/04 Sunderland 2 - 0 Forest (Arca, Wright)
10/1/04 Sunderland 1 - 0 Forest (Arca)
9/8/03 Forest 2 - 0 Sunderland (Harewood, Louis-Jean)

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Ones to watchLee Martin (the on loan Man U winger) who scored a stunning goal in the 3 - 2 win over Watford & the striker back to fitness Nathan Tyson who has the pace to take on any defence. For the away team you need to look no further than new loan signing Djibril Cisse who, like Tyson, has pace to burn and will give the Forest defence a torrid time, especially in the absence of Kelvin Wilson. Also keep an eye on old Forest boy Andy Reid who has plenty of tricks

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Team News:

Forest Team

Smith, Chambers, Morgan, Breckin, Bennett, Perch, Guy Moussi (Sinclair 108), Thornhill (Cole 95), McCleary (Tyson 79), Earnshaw, Cohen.
Subs Not Used: Roberts, Moloney, Heath, Reid
Goal: Earnshaw 60

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Sunderland Team

Gordon, Chimbonda, Nosworthy, Collins, Bardsley, Malbranque (Miller 19), Whitehead (Leadbitter 57), Reid, Murphy (Healy 62), Diouf, Cisse
Subs Not Used: Ward, Edwards, Higginbotham, Stokes.
Goals: Bardsley 86, Healy 93

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Prediction Heartache for Forest fans at the end of extra time with Sunderland taking a 2 - 1 win.