Key Sunderland duo can expose major Nottingham Forest weakness after Ange Postecoglou's latest scare
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net.
Credit: Manh Tung - Breaking Media / Imago
Harri Burton
Thu 25 September 2025 15:10, UK
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris will be hoping to take advantage of Nottingham Forest’s slow start under Ange Postecoglou.
Forest lost Ola Aina to injury during the international window, with the full-back then being joined by Murillo and now Douglas Luiz on the sidelines after recent setbacks.
Despite these absences, the Reds claimed their first point back in Europe for the first time in 30 years, drawing 2-2 with Antony‘s Real Betis on Wednesday, 24 September.
Igor Jesus scored a brace in Sevilla, with Man United‘s former winger the only person stopping the Reds from claiming all three points, but it was an injury scare for Nikola Milenkovic which made the headlines.
Nikola Milenkovic limped off the pitch against Real Betis.
(Copyright: xPaulxBonser/SPPx)
Postecoglou finished the game with a centre-back pairing of Wily Boly and Morato, and while Milenkovic only left the field with cramp, he may not be fully fit to face the Black Cats on Saturday, 27 September.
The manager was adamant that the centre-back will not miss any matches, but even so, of the five goals that Forest have conceded in the Premier League this season, two of them have been from set-pieces.
Last season, the Reds conceded 29 per cent of their league goals via set-pieces, and that is exactly how the Black Cats ensure that they secure third win of the 2025-26 campaign.
MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES
Despite Reinildo Mandava getting himself stupidly sent off, Le Bris’ side held on for a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa, and it could have been even more had they taken their chances at the Stadium of Light.
Between Nordi Mukiele and Omar Alderete, the centre-back duo created three chances, took three shots, all of which were close-range headers, and the latter even hit the crossbar with one of his efforts [FotMob].
Dan Ballard proved Sunderland‘s danger from set-pieces when scoring against West Ham in their opening game of the campaign, and that may have to continue if the Black Cats are to bypass Forest.
The duo also totalled three goals between them at their respective previous clubs last season, as well as being huge dangers in the air at both ends of the pitch, and that also might be key against the Reds.
While it might be easy for a manager to practice set-piece situations during the week, Postecoglou cannot be prepared for the injuries that he is facing right now, and losing Milenkovic would make for dire reading ahead of the weekend.