Cider Boys v Forest Match Preview

With the last hopes of automatic promotion seemingly stamped out in Newcastle, Forest now enter a run of 6 games with little to play for other than final play off position. The away hoodoo continued with the Reds succumbing to their eighth successive away loss & with a two legged play off looming in May that shocking run of away form needs to be put to bed quickly or they may well face the second leg with a deficit to claw back.

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Andrius Velicka (knee ligament) & Jamie McCombe (knee) are both out for the rest og the season while James Wilson, Jamie McCallister & Derby's greatest ever Welsh defender Lewin Nyatanga will not be fit for this game.

The striker is City's top scorer this season with 15 goals including the 'goal of the season' and a more recent wonderful strike against Newcastle. He's added a further 4 assists to his season tally. He's also had more shots on target (65) than any other Championship player this season.

With a play off place as good as certain Billy may take the route of resting players ahead of hopefully 3 season defining games, this could give starts to some of the fringe players like Adebola, McGoldrick, McCleary, McGugan & Lynch. The news that Paul McKenna will miss the remainder of the season with knee ligament damage is a devastating blow to the reds though.

If selected the former Southampton striker has much to prove if he's to live up to his million pound price tag.

These two teams have played 61 times in league competition before this fixture, Forest have a massive lead on wins with 26 compared to just 13 for Bristol City with a further 22 games drawn. Forest have the better scoring record to with 97 of the 162 goals this fixture has produced.

Bristol City haven't tasted a league victory over Forest since way back in 1974, since then we have met 16 times in league Competition with the reds running our winners on 10 occasions & over the last 4 seasons that the two sides have met the reds have taken 4 points from their West Country rivals so the City Ground draw earlier this season is a good sign.

Phil Crossley of Kent will take charge of this fixture, he last took charge of a Forest game in February of this year when the Reds ran out 1 - 0 winners against Middlesbrough at the City Ground. So far this season Mr Crossley has taken sharge of 31 games, dishing out 103 yellow cards & 7 red.

His assistants will be Steve Creighton of Berkshire & Guy Stretton of Leicestershire

Fourth Official for the day will be Mark Russell of Gloucestershire

I really don't know where to start with predicting Forest away games any more, 8 consecutive defeats says another away day capitulation is a safe bet, but now the pressure is seemingly off the could relax and return to the free flowing football from earlier in the season, I'm going to pray for the latter & go with a 1 - 2 away win.

Monday, 5 April 17:15
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