Highway to Hull can get a tune out of Forest

Sky Bet Championship
Sky Sports Football, 5.30pm Saturday

Inconsistent Hull have not registered back-to-back wins since the start of the season and may struggle to justify favouritism against Nottingham Forest in a clash between two mid-table sides.

Three of Hull's four league wins this season have come at home and they have all been thumping successes - 4-1 against Bolton, 4-0 against Bolton and 6-1 over Birmingham.

However, all of them were against teams from the bottom four and a stiffer challenge should be expected from Forest, who are two points higher in the standings.

Hull form

Forest Form

Championship standings

Forest's 18-point tally is three more than they had at the same stage last season and there are still hopes that they can get involved in the scrap for playoff places.

They won 2-0 at home to Burton last Saturday and the major boost for manager Mark Warburton was the return to action of key midfielder David Vaughan, who made his first appearance for over two months.

Man Utd v Tottenham

Bournemouth v Chelsea

Arsenal v Swansea

Vaughan lasted 73 minutes of the Burton game and it is not a coincidence that his four starts this season have yielded three wins and just one defeat. Keeping him fit could be key to them getting involved in the promotion picture.

Forest have plenty of other attributes, including a reliable goalscorer in six-goal striker Daryl Murphy and energy on the flanks with Barrie Mckay and Ben Osborn.

They have a nice mix in the squad and look more likely to be pushing for the top six than fending off relegation.

Hull are hoping to push for an immediate return to the Premier League but looked a long way off the standard required when snatching an ill-deserved 1-0 success at Barnsley last Saturday.

The Tigers lost the shot count 23 to eight and their manager, Leonid Slutsky, admitted to it being a fortunate result.

Hull will be stronger in midfield with Ireland international David Meyler returning from suspension but they have mostly looked ordinary and may struggle against a Forest team targeting a third win in four games.

Recommendation
Nottingham Forest or draw double chance
2pts 5-6 Betway

Bet on this game at Soccerbase.com

Team news
Hull
David Meyler returns after a one-game ban and no fresh injuries have been reported.

Nottingham Forest
Armand Traore (hamstring) and Danny Fox (knock) are doubts and Jack Hobbs is injured.

Key stat
Hull have kept only one clean sheet in their last eight home matches.

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