THE massive prize of a quarter final tie awaits the winners of tomorrow’s Carabao Cup Fourth Round tie but Nottingham Forest will give the Brewers “as hard a game as any this season” says Nigel Clough.
The Albion manager said: “The last 16 of the Carabao Cup is a big, big tie and we have twice European champions coming to town. It’s a good tie for us and it has come at a good time for us as well.
“They are very strong defensively and I think it will be a tight affair because of the prize, even for them. The last eight of a major competition is a massive prize and Forest will not rule out going to the final. If they get past us and get another kind draw, anything can happen.”
Clough believes Forest have a much bigger and stronger squad than when Albion played them in the Championship last season.
He said: “It’s difficult for us to prepare as because of the sheer number of players they have got we have no idea what starting 11 they can put out. They have so many options in so many positions – although we think the shape will stay the same.
“They have better players than us and will put us under pressure at times so it’s important for us to stay in the game. If it is a tight one that will benefit us. The last thing we want to do is to be chasing the game at 2-0 down, like on Saturday, never mind against the quality of Forest so stay in the game, keep it tight and when we get opportunities we have to take them.”
Clough also believes that the competition remains an attractive one for the big clubs.
He said: “When you look at all the past winners and you see all the big boys still left in the competition I think it is getting back some of the importance it used to have. Teams like to get to the final and to get to Wembley and they want to put some silverware on the table for their supporters.
“For us, it’s important to play well in the big games and we have acquitted ourselves well against Burnley and Villa and when you are live on television as well you always want to put a performance on.”