Today sees the visit of Steve Cotterill’s relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest to St Andrews as Blues look to extend their unbeaten run to sixteen matches in all competitions.

Nottingham Forest

It’s been a tough season for Forest, who climbed out of the relegation places after a much-needed win over Coventry last weekend. However they remain 21st and their survival was boosted more by the financial problems Portsmouth are having (which has seen them docked ten points) than a run of good form. In the last six games the Coventry game was their only win; it’s been three league games since an away win and four since an away clean sheet.

Steve Cotterill’s men have a few injury problems to content with as Majewski, McGoldrick, Moloney, Miller and Harewood will all miss out. There will be no St Andrews return for former player Matt Derbyshire either as he remains sidelined. Greg Cunningham may be included in the squad, and Robbie Findley is also doubtful.

Blues

New signings Erik Huseklepp and Andros Townsend are both drafted straight into the squad and may make their debuts in this game. Only Stephen Carr definitely misses out with injury; N’Daw and Zigic both are doubts and may not be risked although Jonathan Spector should play.

After beating Barnsley convincingly 3-1 on Tuesday night Chris Hughton will hope that Blues can extend their unbeaten run in the Championship to 12 as they look to keep the pressure on the top two. Goals have been a bit of a premium of late but the hope is the three on Tuesday will have the Blues back firing on all cylinders.

This is a game Blues really should be winning if they want to go up automatically. Forest haven’t been in great touch all season, they have a few injuries and they look to be under pressure to avoid the drop zone. With two new bodies in areas desperately needing filling there should be a better balance to the side; both Townsend and Huseklepp are match fit having played last weekend in this division and they may well be put into a flat 4-4-2. This would mean one of the midfield trio of Fahey, Mutch and Gomis will miss out and that the manager will have to choose between Elliott and Redmond maybe for a slot on the bench.

I can see us winning this, in fact all I can see is a Blues win so if that puts the mockers on things I’m sorry in advance. I suspect Forest will be looking to remain solid in the hope of nicking something and it’ll be down to Blues to try to create openings – it’ll be interesting to see how Townsend fares if he is started.  Let’s hope we go into the international fixtures unbeaten on still on a roll.

Tags: Andros Townsend, Erik Huseklepp, Guirane N'Daw, Jonathan Spector, Marlon King, Matt Derbyshire, Nikola Zigic, Nottingham Forest