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Nottingham Forest’s play-off hunt was dented last time out after defeat to Aston Villa.

This weekend sees them travel to Portman Road to take on rock-bottom Ipswich Town looking to get their top-six hopes back on track.

Martin O’Neill will be looking to field a team that can make it past the challenge of Paul Lambert’s men who still have not given up hope of pulling off a miraculous escape from the clutches of the bottom three.

A response is needed after a humbling defeat to Villa on Wednesday evening despite taking an early lead.

The defeat left Forest in tenth in the table, three points off the play-off places.

If the tricky Trees want to earn three points this weekend, then this is the XI O’Neill must field in order to do so.

[snack_break title="GK: Costel Pantilimon"]

A firm member of the starting XI, there will be another start for the goalkeeper this weekend.

[snack_break title="RB: Tendayi Darikwa"]

With Sam Byram nearing fitness, now is the time for Darikwa to nail down the right-back spot further.

[snack_break title="CB: Yohan Benalouane"]

Impressive since his arrival on-loan from Leicester he will certainly start once more.

[snack_break title="CB: Alexander Milosevic"]

Will be disappointed with defeat last time out but this weekend provides the perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways.

[snack_break title="LB: Ben Osborn"]

Osborn should receive the nod once more to start at left-back

[snack_break title="RCM: Pele"]

Paris Saint-Germain's Argentinian forward Angel Di Maria (L) vies for the ball against Monaco's midfielder Pelé (R) during the French Trophy of Champions (Trophee des Champions) football match between Monaco (ASM) and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on August 4, 2018, in Shenzhen. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) (Photo credit should read ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images)

Impressive in the win over Hull but taken off in the defeat to Villa – a start should be on the cards again this weekend.

[snack_break title="CM: Jack Colback"]

Playing on the left of a three in the middle, Colback should move back into the middle for the trip to Portman Road.

[snack_break title="LCM: Ryan Yates"]

Yates too was in a wider role but expect him to switch to the left of a three against Ipswich this weekend.

[snack_break title="RF: Joao Carvalho"]

Soccer Football - Championship - Nottingham Forest v Sheffield Wednesday - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - September 19, 2018 Nottingham Forest's Joao Carvalho celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates Action Images/Ed Sykes EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Pleas

The Portuguese attacker should line up in the right of a front three as opposed to a role behind a lone striker last time out.

[snack_break title="ST: Leo Bonatini"]

Should come into the side ahead of Karim Ansarifard who failed to impress in the defeat to Villa.

[snack_break title="LF: Joe Lolley"]

Same as Carvalho, a wider role in a front three will be his role instead of a left-sided attacking midfielder last time out.

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