Nottingham Forest face what could prove to be a pivotal week with two consecutive home matches at the City Ground, as the club battles on multiple fronts. The team secured a encouraging outcome in the first of three straight home fixtures by fighting back to earn a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa on Sunday. They will now look to build upon that point. A spot in the Europa League semi-finals hangs in the balance when Pereira’s team welcome Porto for the second leg of their quarter-final tie on Thursday. The first meeting in Portugal ended level at 1-1, meaning everything remains to be settled when the sides meet again. In Premier League action, Burnley travel to the banks of the Trent on Sunday for a crucial encounter. The team currently sits just three points above the relegation zone and could really use a victory to strengthen their survival prospects. Pereira is still searching for his first victory at the City Ground; this week would represent the ideal moment to change that record. With a monumental few days approaching, NottinghamshireLive examines the major talking points at Trentside…

This particular debate has defined much of the campaign, particularly in recent months. As the finish line approaches, the question of where the head coach’s focus should lie carries even greater significance. European quarter-finals do not occur frequently; semi-finals even less so. The opportunity for the 2025/26 squad to etch their names into the club’s history with a chance at silverware is an enticing prospect. Marinakis would certainly welcome a trophy. However, the owner also does not want relegation on his watch – and neither does Pereira. The Portuguese manager stated last week it would be a “disaster” if Forest suffer relegation. He has been clear that retaining top-flight status is his primary objective. But that does not mean the team should simply abandon their Europa League ambitions. They have managed to balance both competitions thus far, so why can that continue? In the second leg against Midtjylland in the previous round, Pereira successfully managed players’ workload ahead of a significant match against Tottenham Hotspur days later. He also managed to motivate some of his squad players to deliver an excellent performance in Denmark. Advancing past Porto will not be straightforward; Forest’s home form has not been strong this season and they benefited from some fortune in the first leg. However, they should draw confidence from being unbeaten in five matches across all competitions. The chance to reach a European semi-final is not one to be overlooked.

Conventional wisdom has typically set the safety mark at 40 points, though more often than not the threshold has been lower. Since the 1995/96 campaign, when the league was reduced to 20 teams, accumulating 36 points has been sufficient to avoid relegation on at least 18 occasions. However, it appears increasingly likely a higher total may be needed this season. It would be surprising if 36 points proves enough this time. Leeds United appear to be secure now following their victory over Manchester United on Monday. That leaves a battle between Forest, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur to avoid the third relegation position. Pereira’s team are certainly competing and I believe they are capable of securing some important results in their remaining six matches. West Ham possess determination as well – as one would expect now Espirito Santo has had some time in charge. The major uncertainty involves Tottenham. They have shown little resilience so far, but how much impact can De Zerbi have? He did not experience an immediate new manager boost and he understands he faces a significant challenge, but he will believe he can spark some improvement. Burnley on Sunday should not be considered an easy victory for Forest, but if they can secure the win it would leave them in a strong position. Regardless of what happens at the weekend, it will not be over either way.

The manager’s forward options have undeniably been strengthened by Wood’s return from injury. The New Zealand international still needs to regain his sharpness, but simply having him available again is significant. He has been missed in the dressing room as much as on the pitch. When fully fit, Wood must surely be Pereira’s first-choice striker. It may well be he starts on Thursday evening, just as he did in Portugal, with the plan to introduce Jesus at a certain point. Jesus has performed well in European competition but continues to find Premier League life difficult. He had a particularly tough afternoon against Villa, although did demonstrate there is an option to play both him and Wood together. Pereira explained afterward why Awoniyi and Lucca were not included in the matchday squad. He felt he had the forward position covered with Wood available on the bench and wanted to ensure he had sufficient options in other areas. Lucca will likely struggle to feature much between now and season’s end, but there is surely scope for Awoniyi to be involved. I would have had him on the bench at the weekend and would be inclined to give him some role on Sunday. Pereira argued otherwise in his post-match press conference, but scoring remains an issue. Forest need everyone to contribute, but there is also a decision to be made regarding which striker features and when.