Pressure is on big-spending Nottingham Forest, says Sheffield Wednesday boss Garry Monk

Nottingham Forest manager Sabri Lamouchi and his players are bound to feel under pressure to achieve promotion from the Championship after a two-year spending spree, according to Sheffield Wednesday boss Garry Monk.
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Fifth-placed Forest sit three spots and solitary point ahead of Monk’s Owls heading into this afternoon’s clash between the two sides at the City Ground and are on a run of one win in five after finding themselves among the pace-setters in the campaign’s early days.

Monk suggested there is an expectation from supporters and their Greek owners to make the step into the big time after a number of high-profile signings.

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Speaking after an impressive first-half performance at Derby County earned them a point on the road in midweek, Monk said: “They have invested heavily and the expectation is for them to get promotion this season. That is why they are up there and around it.

“They have a high quality squad, but like I always say, it is about us. We need to focus on ourselves, we are still that work in progress and we have not had too much time together.

"They have invested massively and have a really strong, talented squad and we are going to have to play as we did in that first 35 minutes and try and sustain it.

“If we can do that, we can beat anyone, there's no fear in any of the teams we are playing against. But it is more about us and trying to improve in ourselves.”

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Monk’s side could have gone third with a win at Pride Park. He admitted there are a huge number of clubs vying for promotion this season along with themselves and Forest.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Garry Monk says the pressure is on Nottingham Forest.Sheffield Wednesday manager Garry Monk says the pressure is on Nottingham Forest.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Garry Monk says the pressure is on Nottingham Forest.

He said: "The league littered with those clubs. It is so competitive and marginal and those type of things will go at both ends of the table until the end of the season and that's when it will be decided.

“There is a long way to go and we will just focus on it on a game to game basis and trying to get points.”