Nottingham Forest may be in the division below West Ham, but the two sides’ contrasting form means it’s the Championship side who head into this third round FA Cup tie as favourites. Forest are currently sitting in a playoff position, and once again are in the hunt to win promotion to the top flight.
Nottingham Forest vs. West Ham United, 2014 FA Cup: Preview and TV schedule
Premier League hopefuls Nottingham Forest face top-flight strugglers West Ham in the FA Cup on Sunday.
That's in stark contrast to West Ham's problems near the bottom of the Premier League table. Sam Allardyce's side lost 2-1 to fellow strugglers Fulham in their last game, and have fallen to second-bottom with just 15 points from their opening 20 matches. There's no doubt that Big Sam is feeling the heat.
Allardyce is still hampered by an injury-ravaged defence, with centre-backs Winston Reid, James Tomkins and James Collins all out, meaning that the Hammers could be forced into playing a back four formed entirely of full-backs. That isn't where their injury troubles end, with forwards Mladen Petrić, Ricardo Vaz Tê and Andy Carroll also still out, and midfielder Kevin Nolan suspended. For Forest, David Vaughan and Djamal Abdoun are doubtful.
Nottingham Forest injuries and suspensions
Out: None. In doubt: David Vaughan (thigh), Djamal Abdoun (knock).
West Ham United injuries and suspensions
Out: Mladen Petrić (calf), Ricardo Vaz Tê (shoulder), Andy Carroll (foot), Winston Reid (ankle), James Tomkins (groin), Mark Noble (calf), James Collins (calf), Kevin Nolan (suspended). In doubt: Ravel Morrison (groin).
Projected lineups
Nottingham Forest: Karl Darlow; Eric Lichaj, Jack Hobbs, Jamal Lascelles, Gonzalo Jara; Andy Reid, Nathaniel Chalobah; Jamie Paterson, Henri Lansbury, Jamie Mackie; Greg Halford.
West Ham United: Jussi Jääskeläinen; Razvan Raţ, George McCartney, Joey O'Brien, Guy Demel; Mohamed Diamé, Mark Noble; Stewart Downing, Matthew Taylor, Joe Cole; Carlton Cole.
Match Date/Time: Sunday, 12 p.m. local, 7 a.m. ET
Venue: City Ground, Nottingham, England
TV: Fox Sports 2 (U.S. - English), FOX Deportes (U.S. - Spanish), Sportsnet World (Canada), ITV 1 (U.K.)
Online: Fox Soccer 2Go (U.S.)
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