Football League preview – Sousa given vote of confidence
Paulo Sousa (pictured right) is a manager usually associated with defensive tactics and a somewhat confident swagger on the touchline.
Unfortunately both have gone missing this season as his Leicester side, which he took over in pre-season, are bottom of the Championship with a goal difference of minus 11.
However, chairman Milan Mandaric has spoken out in the lead-up to tonight’s match at Norwich revealing Sousa’s job is very much safe.
Mandaric told Sky Sports: “I believe in Paulo and in the players. Friday was a disappointment for us all, but Paulo is a great character and he has the ability to move the club in the right direction.”
The Foxes go into the clash at Carrow Road without centre-half Miguel Vitor, who is serving a three-match suspension following a harsh sending off in the 6-1 defeat at Portsmouth. Jack Hobbs will fill in for the Portuguese defender, which could be one of many changes after their capitulation at Fratton Park. Matty Fryatt, Paul Gallagher, Dany N'Guessan and Richie Wellens could all be drafted into the starting eleven.
Norwich manager Paul Lambert has no new injury concerns ahead of the game, and will be looking to bounce back from their home defeat against Hull City on Saturday. The stats suggest that they stand a good chance; Lambert has never lost back-to-back games as Canaries boss.
It will be a return to familiar territory tonight for Millwall manager Kenny Jackett and his assistant Joe Gallen, who revisit Loftus Road tonight trying to dent QPR’s perfect home record. Jackett was assistant boss at QPR for much of Ian Holloway's tenure in west London, and Gallen, brother of legendary Rangers player Kevin, is a lifelong R’s fan and used to coach the youth side.
Millwall’s stunning start to the season has come off the rails in the last three weeks, including a heavy 6-1 defeat against Watford last week and they face a tough task of trying to stop a rampant QPR who currently lead the way in the Championship by six points.
QPR midfielder Alejandro Faurlin is still suffering with a groin problem, so Akos Buzsaky is again expected to start in the heart of the midfield, whilst Liam Trotter is suspended for the visitors.
Nottingham Forest will look to continue their unbeaten run at home against Sheffield United. It has taken time for the penny to drop for Billy Davies’ side this season but they are slowly climbing the table and are starting to look like the force many people had predicted they would be. They do have injury doubts surrounding Rob Earnshaw and Nathan Tyson, so Dele Adebola could make his first start of the season. United are still missing skipper Chris Morgan who is struggling with a hamstring problem which means on-loan Richie De Laet may make his full debut.
Tags: