Grays Athletic Preview (24-8-11)

This Wednesday we entertain Grays Athletic in our first home match of the season. We also welcome our former manager Hakan Hayrettin for his first competitive match against us since leaving for Thurrock in 2006.

Hayrettin had a successful spell at Thurrock, keeping them in the Blue Square South year after year, and almost leading them to the play-offs with a notoriously tiny budget. Hakan will no doubt be looking to lead Grays to a play-off space this season, at least.

Like us, Grays started their season with a win, putting Ware away in fine fashion. Three goals from Joe Sweeney helped them to a 4-0 win, which had it not been for Needham Market’s demolition of Potters Bar, would have seen them sit at the top of the table.

Forest will be expected to name an unchanged squad from Saturday’s 3-2 win over Soham, with Josh Bonnett’s three match suspension not kicking in until the FA Cup match with Ilford. Bonnett will also miss the league matches with Maldon & Tiptree and Cheshunt.

The last time we played Grays we were defeated by 4 goals to nil, in a match which saw Jason Willis sent off. We did however, beat Grays on one occasion last season, albeit in the Championship Manager Cup. A single goal from Andrew Thomas was enough to see us go through against a Grays side which included Glen Kendall, who should be starting for Forest on Wednesday evening.

There will be live match updates on the club’s Twitter stream and Facebook page from 7.45 PM tomorrow.