Prediction: Cardiff City vs Nottingham Forest

Verdict: Nottingham Forest win

Best Odds: 11/8

Bookmaker: Unibet

Looking to extend on what has been a real purple patch, play-off contenders Nottingham Forest will make the trip to Cardiff on Sunday afternoon.

Cardiff City

Starting with the hosts, after only just missing out on a play-off spot last season, Cardiff now find themselves in a real battle to extend on their Championship status this time around. In the midst of what has become a real struggle in south Wales, the Blues were also last seen putting in another horrendous display. Suffering an action-packed 3-2 defeat away at Bristol City, Steve Morison’s men open this weekend’s fixtures sat holding just a three-point buffer from dropping into the relegation zone. With it appearing that their FA Cup victory against Preston earlier in the month was just a minor boost, Cardiff have failed to win any of their last six Championship outings on the spin. Knowing that they should face a stern test when Nottingham Forest arrive in town this weekend, Sunday’s hosts have shown some extended problems on home soil. Including a 1-0 loss against Hull last month, it should be noted that Morison’s side have lost their last three second-tier matchups in south Wales.

Team News

Cardiff have confirmed that the duo of Isaac Vassell and Sam Bowen will not feature again this weekend as they still deal with injury issues.

However, in what could be a real boost for Cardiff this weekend, key defender Sean Morrison could be in line to start here.

Nottingham Forest

As for the visitors, while Cardiff might find themselves at the heart of a relegation scrap, Nottingham Forest are battling it out at the other end of the Championship table. Only continuing to impress since bringing in Steve Cooper earlier in the season, the one-time European champions have skyrocketed their way into the play-off hunt. With a top-six finish now at the top of their agenda, the former Swansea boss saw his side put in another eye-catching display in midweek. Breezing past relegation scrappers Barnsley at the City Ground as they landed a 3-0 win, the mood in Forest’s camp will be at a red-hot high. Likewise, managing to extend on their FA Cup adventure with a stunning 1-0 victory against Premier League giants Arsenal on January 9th, Sunday’s guests have won each of their last four matchups across all formats. Continuing to shine at both ends of the pitch, it should also be noted that the play-off contenders picked up a 1-0 win when they made the trip to south Wales last season.

Team News

28-year-old Rodrigo Ely is the only injury absentee that Nottingham Forest will be without this weekend.

Securing a 3-0 win against Barnsley last time out, Cooper could be looking to name the same starting XI here.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides faced off in south Wales last season, Nottingham Forest picked up a 1-0 victory.
• Sunday’s guests have also won each of their last four matchups across all formats, including a 1-0 win against Premier League outfit Arsenal.
• Cardiff have failed to win any of their last six Championship contests, mustering just a pair of points.
• Likewise, the Blues have also lost each of their last three Championship home fixtures.
• Nottingham Forest have lost just one of their last 11 matchups away from the City Ground, a run that stems back to August 21st.

Conclusion

Storming their way to a 3-0 romp against relegation scrappers Barnsley in midweek, Nottingham Forest will be desperate to lay down another marker here. Skyrocketing their way up the Championship table and now tipped as a leading contender to clinch a play-off spot, Sunday’s guests will be looking to cash in on a Cardiff side in the midst of a real struggle. With Cooper’s side winning each of their last four matchups across all formats, a run highlighted by a 1-0 victory against Arsenal, they rightfully open as a standout pick here. Remarkably suffering just a single defeat away from the City Ground since way back on August 21st, Forest will also be boosted by their last trip to south Wales. Claiming a 1-0 victory on the road last season, we’re backing a similar outcome here.

Verdict: Nottingham Forest win

Best Odds: 11/8

Bookmaker: Unibet