“Must be benched” Nuno tipped to BENCH flop with 5/6 average rating to start GOAL robot against Brighton.
Nottingham Forest will travel to face Brighton and Hove Albion tomorrow, aiming to preserve their unbeaten start to the Premier League season.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s side is coming off a landmark win against Liverpool last weekend, their first victory over Arne Slot’s team since 1969, ending Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the 2024/25 campaign. Forest has also beaten Southampton and drawn with Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers in their opening four league matches.
However, if Forest is to secure a third league win of the season, Nuno may have to make the tough decision to drop a key player from the starting lineup, despite their role in the Anfield victory.
### Why Chris Wood Might Be Dropped Against Brighton
Striker Chris Wood has started the season strongly, scoring two goals in four matches, making him Forest’s top scorer so far. However, both goals came at the City Ground, and Wood has struggled to replicate that success away from home, where Forest employs a more counter-attacking style.
At 32, Wood is primarily a target man rather than a player suited to rapid counter-attacks. During the win at Liverpool, he played 81 minutes, completed only four passes, and lost all eight duels he contested. His effectiveness relies on winning aerial battles and linking up with teammates, which he failed to do consistently against Liverpool.
Given his below-par performance, Nuno may opt to replace Wood with a player who made a strong impression in limited minutes during the closing stages of the Anfield match.
### Who Could Replace Wood Against Brighton
Jota Silva, who joined Forest from Portuguese club Vitoria Guimaraes for £7 million in the summer, has yet to start a Premier League match. However, the 25-year-old has already scored for the club, netting an equalizer in the Carabao Cup against Newcastle United.
Silva replaced Wood last weekend and, despite playing 72 minutes fewer, completed just two fewer passes and won more aerial duels than Wood. He also offers the pace needed for counter-attacks, complementing Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi to form a potentially lethal front three for Nuno.
Despite his smaller stature compared to Wood, Silva has shown aerial prowess, giving Forest an option to relieve pressure on the defense if needed.
With the Brighton game presenting another chance for Forest to build on their strong start, Nuno must make some bold decisions to keep the team’s unbeaten run alive. Jota Silva’s all-around abilities could make him the ideal replacement for Wood, giving Forest their best shot at securing a fifth consecutive league win.