Robbie Neilson upbeat as Leicester City bid to end Nottingham Forest jinx
The City Ground will hold no fear for Leicester City on Saturday, defender Robbie Neilson has said.
City have not won a league game at Nottingham Forest since January 1972, and Billy Davies' Forest squad are in fine form, unbeaten in their last 10 games.
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Robbie Neilson
However, City have one of the best away records in the league, with only one defeat, and Neilson said they will go into the East Midlands derby full of confidence.
"We would have no fear going anywhere in this division," said the City full-back.
"We have a strong mentality in this team and they are all experienced players who have played at decent levels. We are well organised. Tactically everyone knows what they are doing.
"Forest had a good result last week (they beat Doncaster 4-1) so they will have their tails up but we are confident we can go there and win.
"We know it will be difficult but we have been to some difficult venues this season and picked up points."
Neilson knows that if City are to end a barren run of 13 league games at Forest over a 37 year period they will need to take their goalscoring chances.
City were unable to turn their dominance at Scunthorpe United last weekend into goals and were punished as they conceded a late equaliser.
Now Neilson believes City must show more of a ruthless streak against Forest.
"That is Championship football, if you don't put teams away then they will get chances and take them," said the former Hearts defender.
"Maybe we don't kill teams off. We have not scored a lot and given a team a good turning over.
"We do get chances but don't take them, but we get one goal and it is up to the defenders not to let them get one. Unfortunately they did at Scunthorpe.
"But we have an abundance of talent up there and we have Steve Howard and Dany N'Guessan on the bench as well. They are players who can score goals so we have got a good forward line. It is good competition for places.
"We have done well in the previous two derbies this season but we want to win this one.
"We think we can go there and win, and then we have Bristol City at home after that, so we have some tough games coming up towards the festive period. Hopefully, we can remain up there challenging."
10 Comments
by Allan G, Huntingdon
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 2:29PM
“I was there in Jan '72. Early Bloomfield days with Weller, Birchy, Sammels, Shilton, Nish, etc, all in the side. Somehow Forest managed to sneak a goal (Storey-Moore I think) and hang on desperately until nearly the end when two late goals from our galacticos deservedly won us the points. Happy days.”
by God, Heaven
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 2:28PM
“Yeah but QPR aren't as good as us. Still you can dream”
by James, Leicester
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 2:24PM
“Anyone remember the last set of fans that were this cocky before they played us?? QPR came on giving it the big 'un about how they were going to smash 4 or 5 passed us because of their from leading into that match.
We embarrased them.
'Notts' Forest has never been an easy place for us to go in the league but on our last visit there we let them have a goal start and we still won the match”
by Bob, Trentside
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 1:02PM
“Leicester have you actually watched Forest this season?? We are awesome, we will be going up. You'll be playing rugby at 3.00pm Saturday.”
by glen, bristol
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 12:56PM
“forest have good forwards but a crap defence. We have the defence 2 take care of their forwards but their defence ain't gonna stop our forwards. So mr shakespeare u might be right the goals will start flowing in and what a time 2 start. Hammering the trees. Common city lets av em!”
by Rugby Foxile, Ruggers
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 12:40PM
“Funny, I forgot Nottingham even had another football team. Christ how bored of life must you be to support that pile of mediocrity. Anyway well done for pulling away from mid-table little tree-huggers. Watch you don't get a nose bleed :-)”
by Tony Woodcocks Hair, Soon to be 3rd in League
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 10:55AM
“Robbie Neilson might not have any fear of going anywhere in this division, but come 5 o'clock on Saturday he will know what a comprehensive defeat feels like. Good job it's not far to travel because if I remember rightly, it's not fun travelling back from an away defeat. Might be wrong about that mind you, we haven't lost away for about 9 months now. See you all soon, hope you enjoy your trip to the big city, but I doubt it”
by glen, bristol
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 10:27AM
“even if we gave forest a goal start again they still still wouldn't win! 2-0 to city and start of the forest demise. Kermorgant 2 break his duck and fryatt.”
by Neil, Also Nuneaton
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 9:57AM
“FAO ForestFumbler
Idiot”
by ForestFumbler, Nuneaton
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 9:47AM
“Bring it on Foxes, you got more chance of FIFA giving you boys the extra World Cup spot than getting three points off Billy's boys come Saturday, it's not just gonna be a thrashing, it's gonna be 4 or 5 goals between the sides and Forest go third with a clean injury list. Man it's good to be a Red!!”