PREVIEW: Dyche’s Forest travel to Austria to face Sturm Graz in the Europa League | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest aim to continue from their victory over Porto last time out in Europe as they travel to Austria to face Sturm Graz, who sit in the bottom end of the Europa League table.

Sean Dyche’s first game in charge of Nottingham Forest came in the form of a comfortable 2-0 victory over Porto at the City Ground and it was a result where the relief was palpable around the ground. While the Tricky Trees’ league form hasn’t skyrocketed like many hoped it would, Forest still remain within good stead to qualify for the knock-out rounds of the Europa League.

Dyche has set up his Forest team to prioritise effective football which has steadied the ship that was all but sunk following the sacking of Ange Postecoglu, whose dismal run of form left Forest 19th and without a win in their last nine in the Premier League. However, Forest impressed in their last European outing with their first Europa League win of the season. With the prospect of relegation is looming ever larger over the City Ground, their European form has taken an uptick and a victory in Thursdays game could take the Trees up to eighth in the table.

Forest travel to Austria looking to rescue their dire defensive record in recent weeks. Their victory over Porto was the only clean sheet Forest have kept in their last 23 matches stretching all the way back to April. Forest had to settle for a draw in their opening European encounter away at Real Betis which was followed by a poor performance at home to Danish side Midtjylland where they lost 3-2.

Sturm Graz retained their Austrian league title last season but have had a lukewarm start to their season where they have lost four of their first 11 matches and sit three points behind Red Bull Salzburg. The Austrians have collected just three points from the nine available; a 2-1 victory over Rangers was followed by a 2-0 defeat to Midtjylland and another defeat to Celtic. Sturm Graz sit 27th in the Europa League table but they’re only one point behind Forest going into match week four.

The Austrian outfit have only won one of their previous eight encounters with English sides which came against Arsenal in the 1970/71 season.

For them, duo Max Johnston and Belmin Beganović are still recovering from long-term injuries, while Tochi Chukwuani is suspended following his dismissal during the sides defeat to Celtic last time out.

Forest are without Douglas Luiz, Ola Aina, Chris Wood, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Dilane Bakwa as all five are still recovering from long-term injuries.