Prediction: Nottingham Forest vs Leeds

Verdict: Nottingham Forest draw no bet

Best Odds: 7/4

Bookmaker: Bet365

In what could be a real promotion six-pointer, Nottingham Forest will welcome a stalling Leeds to the City Ground on Saturday evening.

Nottingham Forest

Starting with the hosts, while Nottingham Forest may have missed out on a real opportunity to climb into the automatic positions after being hit with a 2-1 defeat away at Birmingham last weekend, the Reds should still find the mood in their camp at a high. Knowing that three points on Saturday would see them move within a single point of the automatic positions, fans around the City Ground have seen their side lose just one of their last eight Championship matchups, a run that stems back to the 21st of December. Continuing to put on some real eye-catching performances on home soil, including bagging a trio of strikes in back-to-back matchups against Luton and Blackburn in Nottinghamshire, one man to keep an eye out for on Saturday could be leading marksman, Lewis Grabban. While the one-time Aston Villa striker may have failed to convert from the spot at St. Andrew’s last week, the 32-year-old has recorded six goals in his last eight Championship appearances and also found the net in Forest’s 1-1 draw against Leeds earlier in the season.

Team News

Nottingham Forest have midfielder Samba Sow back after a knee injury.

Striker Nuno Da Costa is expected to be among the substitutes and could make his debut, while another new signing, Adama Diakhaby, is pushing to start after two appearances from the bench.

Leeds

As for the visitors, while Leeds may have managed to come from two goals down against Millwall last month, the Whites have once again come crashing back down to earth. Putting in what was another worrying display and hit with a shock 1-0 defeat against relegation scrappers Wigan last weekend, Marcelo Bielsa’s men have now lost four of their last five matches across all competitions and hold just a three-point buffer from losing their spot in the top-two. Along with collecting just a sole victory on the road since the start of December, there is no doubt that the former Napoli boss will be growing more concerned by his side’s issues in the final third. Drawing another blank against the Latics last time out, Leeds have failed to find the net in three of their last four appearances and the mood around Elland Road appears to be growing more fragile by the week. Already suffering defeats away at the likes of Charlton, Millwall, and QPR since opening the 2019/2020 campaign, Saturday’s trip to Nottinghamshire could prove to be yet another tricky test.

Team News

Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips is available after a three-match ban.

Loan signing Jean-Kevin Augustin could feature after playing 45 minutes for the under-23s and Gaetano Berardi is also in contention after a calf injury.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides faced off earlier in the season, Forest and Leeds played out a 1-1 draw at Elland Road.
• In fact, three of the last four meetings have ended in a stalemate.
• Leeds have lost four of their last five matchups across all competitions.
• Nottingham Forest have lost just one of their last eight matches against Championship appearances.
• Lewis Grabban has scored six goals in his last eight Championship matchups, including finding the net at Elland Road back in August.

Conclusion

On paper, Nottingham Forest should see Saturday’s contest as a golden opportunity to move within touching distance of the top-two and make a real statement. Continuing to shine at the City Ground and Leeds showing what has been a woeful run of form after losing four of their last five appearances, we’re backing Sabri Lamouchi’s men to come out on top in Nottinghamshire this weekend.

Verdict: Nottingham Forest draw no bet

Best Odds: 7/4

Bookmaker: Bet365