Scott Parker’s ‘not ideal’ admission hands Nottingham Forest the advantage vs Burnley

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Nottingham Forest face Burnley on Saturday, with Ange Postecoglou looking to get the better of Scott Parker to earn his first victory as Reds boss.

Forest lost 3-0 to Arsenal in Postecoglou’s first game in charge, a defeat that wasn’t exactly unexpected with the Carabao Cup clash with Swansea City eyed as the ideal chance for a first win.

However, the Reds lost to Swansea in dramatic circumstances, leading to Postecoglou berating his Forest squad in the dressing room.

The wait for a win goes on to Saturday’s trip to face newly-promoted Burnley, then, with Parker giving Postecoglou an advantage with his pre-match press conference comments.

Scott Parker talks difficulties preparing for Ange Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest

Burnley sit 17th in the Premier League table, a point behind Forest. Crucially for Parker’s side, though, they have got off the mark in terms of a win back in the top flight.

The Clarets were unlucky not to earn a point against champions Liverpool in their previous fixture, too, but Parker is wary of the challenges that Postecoglou’s Reds present.

He said in his press conference: “I think he’s been well-documented. Ange, where he’s gone, has been hugely successful at previous clubs and he did that again last year. So, up against a huge competitor and someone who’s been around it for a long, long time.

‘Obviously, the planning for us is, I wouldn’t say not ideal, but you’re obviously planning for a totally different set-up and a different outlook on the game.

‘But yeah, it’ll be a tough game, as always, and certainly with Ange being there as well, whether it was Ange or Nuno, it’s the Premier League, and we’ll have to come with our best game, really.”

Parker is right to be concerned about what Postecoglou could bring on Saturday, given that the Forest boss has an impeccable record against The Clarets from his time at Tottenham.

Ange Postecoglou has a perfect record against Burnley

While last season’s 17th-place finish highlighted Postecoglou’s struggles in the Premier League with Tottenham, his first season in charge delivered a much more respectable 5th place.

Amid the positivity of that first season, Postecoglou’s Tottenham played Burnley three times, all of which resulted in a victory for the North London side.

An aggregate score of 8-3 over the three games highlighted that Postecoglou was able to get the better of what was then Vincent Kompany’s Burnley. However, under Parker, the Clarets have become a more defensively resilient outfit, so the Reds will do well to match that 5-2 away victory.