Nottingham Forest v Cardiff predictions: Visitors to deepen Forest's gloom

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Nottingham Forest v Cardiff City in the Championship on Sunday

Where to watch

Sky Sports Football, 2.30pm Sunday

Best bet

Cardiff draw no bet
1pt 4-5 BoyleSports

Team news

Nottingham Forest
Loic Mbe Soh is back in contention after injury and new arrivals Max Lowe, Djed Spence, Rodrigo Ely and Xande Silva may feature for the first time. Braian Ojeda and Mohamed Drager are self-isolating.

Cardiff
Kieffer Moore is available after completing a period of self-isolation following a close contact with a COVID-19 case.

Match preview

Nottingham Forest have been rooted to the foot of the Championship for over three weeks and are likely to stay there after facing Cardiff at the City Ground.

Pressure has been mounting on Forest boss Chris Hughton, who is more used to managing teams at the top end of the second tier.

Hughton has two Championship promotions on his CV having taken Newcastle and Brighton into the Premier League but his first full season in the Forest dugout has got off to a tough start with injuries to defenders Joe Worrall and Loic Mbe Soh exposing a lack of depth in the squad.

Worrall returned for the 1-1 draw at Derby but Forest are still hindered by a lack of confidence and a dearth of attacking quality.

Forest have managed just four goals in five games and may lack the guile to open up a powerful Cardiff backline containing towering centre-backs Aden Flint and Sean Morrison.

Cardiff's style of play is not complicated but it doesn't need to be because they are a huge threat from crosses thanks to the aerial power of Flint, Morrison and Kieffer Moore.

Bluebirds' boss Mick McCarthy can rely on Wolves loanee Ryan Giles to supply a constant stream of high-quality deliveries and the barrage may be too much for Forest to cope with.

Whether or not Cardiff have enough quality to threaten the top six is up for debate, but they are tough to play against and can take three points this weekend.

Key stat

Nottingham Forest have lost their last three home league fixtures.

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