After a crucial victory in the semi-finals of the Champions League, the entire Nottingham Forest team's morale was high. Even though there were two games in the next week, everyone's condition was well-maintained. Twain used rotation in the upcoming league game and replaced more than half of the starting lineup. Wood was given a break. Although he did not need to rest at all, Twain considered that he wanted to give the other players more opportunities, so he asked him to accompany his mum in the stands.
Sun Jihai replaced Wood as the defensive midfielder. The Chinese player had now fully realized his reputation as a "utility player." In an interview with the Chinese journalists, he had joked that he was "like a tool of revolution, he'll go wherever he's needed."
