Milenkovic Absent, Nottingham Forest Still Favored to Beat Coventry
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- Nottingham Forest dipastikan kehilangan bek tangguh Nikola Milenkovic saat menjamu Coventry City di City Ground, Sabtu malam WIB.
- Coventry tampil buruk dengan empat kekalahan beruntun tanpa gol, sementara Forest baru saja meraih kemenangan perdana atas Aston Villa.
- Kedalaman skuad Forest di lini belakang menjadi kunci untuk menjaga momentum dan memaksimalkan peluang meraih tiga poin.
Nottingham Forest faces a bitter reality ahead of their English Premier League match against Coventry City at the City Ground on Saturday (19/9/2026) evening WIB. Serbian star defender, Nikola Milenkovic, is confirmed to be out due to an unrecovered hamstring injury. Manager Oliver Glasner confirmed that the 28-year-old player is not yet fit after previously experiencing muscle strain before last week's victory over Aston Villa.
Milenkovic's absence is a significant blow to Forest's defense. His presence has consistently provided strength, leadership, and composure at the heart of the defense. His aerial ability also poses a threat in set-piece situations, both defensively and offensively. Without him, Forest loses a central figure who typically organizes his teammates at the back.
Nevertheless, Glasner doesn't need to be overly concerned. Forest's squad depth in the defensive sector is considered adequate. Jair Cunha has returned to training, while Ousmane Diomande performed solidly when replacing Milenkovic against Aston Villa, helping the team secure three points. The presence of Murillo and Ola Aina adds experience to the defensive line, suggesting Forest is still capable of containing Coventry's attack, which has yet to score a league goal this season.
On the other hand, Coventry City arrives in poor form. Frank Lampard's side has suffered four consecutive league defeats, failing to score a single goal, and were most recently thrashed 5-0 at home by Brighton. A 3-1 loss to Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup midweek adds further pressure. Former Forest striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, is also unavailable due to suspension, leaving Coventry short of options upfront.
Although Forest is favored on paper, this match could present a different challenge. Coventry is expected to play deeper and more cautiously, attempting to close down spaces typically exploited by Forest in attack. Morgan Gibbs-White's creativity will be crucial to break down a tight defense. Liam Delap, who is confident after scoring his first goal, and Igor Jesus, who was the hero of the victory at Villa Park, are expected to break the deadlock.
"We must stay focused and not underestimate Coventry. They are a struggling team, and we need to be patient in building our attacks," Glasner said in a pre-match press conference, as quoted from the club's official website.
For Indonesian football fans, this match is interesting to follow as an illustration of the competition in the English Premier League. Nottingham Forest, which struggled a few seasons ago, is now trying to rebuild its performance under Glasner. Meanwhile, Coventry, promoted this season, is still searching for its best form. This match can also serve as a reference for Indonesian clubs regarding the importance of squad depth and injury management in a tight competition.
A victory over Coventry will solidify Forest's position in the mid-table and provide valuable momentum before facing a tough upcoming schedule. Conversely, a defeat will reignite doubts. Will Forest be able to capitalize on this golden opportunity without Milenkovic, or will Coventry find their first momentum? The answer will be seen at the City Ground.
