Injuries and schedule to hamper Forest
Nottingham Forest take on Leeds United on Sunday afternoon off the back of their comprehensive Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester United in midweek.
The Reds have worked tirelessly to establish a four-point cushion on the bottom three, and Steve Cooper may have had one eye on this weekend’s hosting of the Whites ahead of their trip to Old Trafford.
Forest were busy in the January transfer window where Leeds also strengthened their squad, and Jesse Marsch may sense an opportunity to pull the visitors clear of the drop at the City Ground.
The market is fairly undecided on this encounter, probably a little hotter on Leeds, but Forest go in as narrow favourites due to home advantage.
Process
Forest have improved a lot defensively since the early knockings of the campaign, and they may have to lean on that fact with the Whites coming into the match with a preparation advantage.
Keylor Navas has to be seen as an outstanding signing for the Reds, even though there are shades of Julio Cesar at Queens Park Rangers.
The Reds have still only scored 16 goals from 20 outings this season, and remain reliant on the same handful of players with their injury list set to hamper them in the final third.
Morgan Gibbs-White and Taiwo Awoniyi are huge players in Forest’s survival bid, and the pair missing out should fuel belief in the Leeds camp, the former cannot be too far away from a senior England call-up if he continues on his current path.
Cheikhou Kouyate, Dean Henderson, Giulian Biancone, Jonjo Shelvey, Moussa Diakhate and Omar Richards are also unavailable the hosts, maybe they were smart to assemble such a deep squad in the summer.
Ryan Yates, Chris Wood and Jack Colback are doubtful as well.
Robin Koch is suspended for this one, while Adam Forshaw, Liam Cooper, Rodrigo and Stuart Dallas are sidelined and Tyler Adams is a doubt.
Goals?
A potential angle in, but I would rather keep two outcomes onside at a backable price.
Forest have scored in seven of ten.
Forest have conceded in eight of ten.
Forest have seen both teams score in five of ten.
Forest have seen over 2.5 goals in four of ten.
Leeds have scored in seven of ten.
Leeds have conceded in eight of ten.
Leeds have seen both teams score in seven of ten.
Leeds have seen over 2.5 goals in seven of ten.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
1-0 Forest but a fairly even game.