MX23RW : Wednesday, January 22 20:10:53| >> :120:35606:35606:

Preview: Leeds United vs. Nottingham Forest

Sports Mole looks ahead to Saturday's Championship clash between mid-table Leeds and playoff hopefuls Nottingham Forest.

Nottingham Forest's late bid for a playoff place sees them take on Leeds United next as they travel to Elland Road looking to further close the gap on the top six.

Dougie Freedman's arrival has rejuvenated the club, and 19 points from a possible 24 under the Scot have kept alive the possibility of catching Brentford.

Last week's 2-1 defeat at the hands of Charlton Athletic was a hiccup, but Forest immediately got back to winning ways last weekend with a come-from-behind victory over title-challenging Middlesbrough at the City Ground.

Nine points is now the gap to make up with 10 games remaining and, while their fate may seem to be out of their own hands, they will have faced the six teams currently directly above them in the table in their last 11 games by the end of the campaign.

That could prove to be a good thing or a bad thing, but with Forest growing in confidence and momentum, they will fancy their chances of successfully negotiating their tricky run-in.

Their away form could do with some improvement, however, with all of Forest's dropped points under Freedman coming on their travels so far.

Jack Hobbs is nearing a return from injury but won't be ready for this match, while Chris Cohen, Andy Reid and Britt Assombalonga remain long-term absentees for the visitors.

Freedman did make his first signing this week in the form of Modou Barrow on loan from Swansea City, and he could feature at some point this weekend, although he is unlikely to start.

For Leeds, they will be glad to have a relatively stress-free end to a tumultuous season, with the threat of relegation now a distant memory and a top-half finish their new goal.

It has been an up-and-down campaign for the Yorkshire outfit, but Forest will be wary that many of those ups having come against teams hoping for promotion.

The Whites have done the double over both Bournemouth and Middlesbrough as well as beating Derby County and Ipswich Town this season, so they could end up having as big a say on the promotion race as anyone.

Neil Redfearn has brought an element of consistency to his side in recent months, with seven wins in their last 10 games and only three defeats in their 12 league matches since the turn of the year.

Consistency is not a word that you can associate with their home form, however, with Redfearn's side having alternated between wins and defeats in their last five outings at Elland Road.

The latest of those came in a 2-1 triumph over Ipswich last week, a result they backed up with a 1-0 victory over struggling Wigan Athletic at the weekend.

Alex Mowatt scored in both of those games and has found the net in each of the club's last four victories, so should be in line for another start this weekend.

He could be rejoined in midfield by Rodolph Austin and Sam Byram, both of whom will undergo late fitness tests. Liam Cooper is also back available after injury, while Billy Sharp is expected to keep his spot up front.

Leeds:

Recent form: WWLLWW

Possible starting lineup: Silvestri; Wootton, Cooper, Bamba, Taylor; Mowatt, Murphy, Byram, Austin, Cook; Sharp

Nottm Forest:

Recent form: DWWWLW

Possible starting lineup: Darlow; Lichaj, Lascelles, Collins, Fox; Lansbury, Osborn, Burke, Gardner, Antonio; Blackstock

Sports Mole says: 1-2


ID:210857: cacheID:210857:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6422:
Written by
Barney Corkhill
No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Wigan manager Malky Mackay gives instructions during the Sky Bet Championship match between Reading and Wigan Athletic at Madejski Stadium on February 17, 2015
Read Next:
Preview: Wigan vs. Leeds
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd28186440182258
2Leeds UnitedLeeds27168351193256
3Sunderland28159440221854
4Burnley27141123192253
5Middlesbrough28128846341244
6Blackburn RoversBlackburn28126103126542
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2891453324941
8Watford28125113939041
9Queens Park RangersQPR2891183235-338
10Bristol City2791083331237
11Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds27107103843-537
12Norwich CityNorwich279994339436
13Coventry CityCoventry2898113737035
14Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2898113343-1035
15Swansea CitySwansea2897123135-434
16Preston North EndPreston2871383035-534
17Millwall27710102626031
18Stoke CityStoke27610112533-828
19Cardiff CityCardiff28610123143-1228
20Derby CountyDerby2876153138-727
21Hull City2868142738-1126
22Portsmouth2668123245-1326
23Luton TownLuton2875162947-1826
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2749142555-3021


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!