Ipswich’s Gary O’Neil on Nottingham Forest’s Tactical Challenge in Pre-Match Presser

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Gary O’Neil previewed Ipswich Town’s Premier League match against Nottingham Forest, which kicks off at 8pm on Friday 23 October at Portman Road. The Ipswich manager spoke about Forest’s direct style, the threat of Liam Delap and the need to start again from zero.

Ipswich are 10th with 9 points from seven games, and Forest are 19th with 5 points. O’Neil said he has watched all of Forest’s games and rates them above their league position.

A different test

“This is a very different test coming against Nottingham Forest, but equally difficult”

What he said

O’Neil described the Forest game as a different kind of challenge, and one that is just as hard as the last. Ipswich’s most recent league match was a 3-2 defeat at Man City on Saturday 17 October.

What he meant

Analysis: Forest are 19th, four points behind Ipswich, and O’Neil is making clear that he does not see the gap as a guide to the difficulty of the match. Calling it “equally difficult” to a trip to Man City suggests he wants no complacency in the squad.

Forest better than their results

“I’ve watched all of their games and they’ve performed far better than their points tally would suggest.”

What he said

O’Neil said he has studied all of Forest’s league games this season. His view is that their performances have been better than the 5 points they have collected from seven matches.

What he meant

Analysis: the numbers give some support to that view. Forest have won 1, drawn 2 and lost 4, with 5 goals scored and 9 conceded. In their last two defeats before this game, they lost 1-0 at home to Arsenal despite winning the corner count 8-6, and lost 3-1 at Crystal Palace with 8 corners to 5. Corners are only a partial guide to how a game went.

Unlucky in defeat

“If they were boxing matches you definitely wouldn’t have them as the loser in them.”

What he said

O’Neil went further, saying Forest would not have been the losers in their defeats if those games had been judged like boxing matches.

What he meant

Analysis: Forest have lost four of their seven league games, and two of their last six matches ended 1-0 against them, at home to Coventry City and Arsenal. O’Neil is pointing to narrow margins to argue that Forest’s record understates them, and that Ipswich should prepare for a team capable of better than the table shows.

A difficult style to play against

“But it’s just an incredibly difficult style to play against.”

What he said

O’Neil said Forest’s style of play is hard for opponents to deal with, whatever their league position.

What he meant

Analysis: this fits with what he went on to say about Forest being a direct team, and it frames the game as a tactical problem for Ipswich to solve. Ipswich have conceded 15 goals in seven league games, so how they deal with Forest’s approach is likely to matter.

Liam Delap’s physical threat

“He’s physical and they use him a lot because they’re a very, very direct team.”

What he said

O’Neil singled out Delap as a physical presence that Forest rely on often. He linked that to Forest being, in his words, a “very, very direct team”.

What he meant

Analysis: Forest will be without Igor Jesus (calf injury) and Nicolò Savona (knee injury). O’Neil’s focus on Delap shows where he expects the ball to be played. Forest have scored 5 goals in seven league games, so Ipswich’s defenders will expect to face direct, physical contests.

Expecting a frustrating night

“They’re going to try and make it a really frustrating night for us – everything we do is going to be tested again”

What he said

O’Neil said he expects Forest to try to frustrate Ipswich, and that all of what his side do will be tested again.

What he meant

Analysis: the word “again” fits a recent run in which Ipswich have lost three of their last five league games. At Portman Road in their last six matches, they beat Fulham 2-1 but lost 2-0 to Liverpool and 4-2 to Arsenal. O’Neil seems to be preparing his players for a long, awkward game rather than an open one.

Starting again from zero

“We need to step on the pitch and understand we haven’t done a thing.”

What he said

O’Neil said Ipswich must go into the match understanding that they have achieved nothing yet.

What he meant

Analysis: Ipswich are 10th with three wins from seven, and O’Neil does not want that position or the points total to affect his players’ approach. His message is that this game starts from nothing, whatever has happened before.

Confidence check: Measured

O’Neil sounded measured rather than bullish. He spent most of his time on what Forest do well, saying they have “performed far better than their points tally would suggest”, and warned that it would be a “really frustrating night”. He did not predict a result.

The form and table facts support that tone. Ipswich are 10th with 9 points, but they have lost three of their last five league games and have conceded 15 goals in seven matches. Forest are 19th with 5 points, have won one of their last five, and are missing Jesus and Savona.

O’Neil’s closing message to his players, that “we haven’t done a thing”, reads as a call to focus on the game rather than the table.

How to watch

Ipswich Town vs Nottingham Forest kicks off at 8pm UK time on Friday 23 October, live on Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports Main Event, NOW. Subscribers can stream it on Sky Go, NOW.

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