The Championship Weekend Preview

Ipswich Town v Nottingham Forest

In last weekend’s 5 things I noted that Ipswich were a good outside bet for the play offs. That claim was strengthened by another win in midweek, whilst Forest’s awful month continued with a home defeat against lowly Charlton to compound a dreadful few days for the club.

Championship
Aaron Cresswell

Ipswich have kicked on just at the right time in the race for the play offs. As teams above them begin to falter the Tractor Boys have upped their game. A fine display on Saturday away at Brighton, whilst one of their results of the season against Derby at Portman Road on Tuesday, in which a Jonny Williams screamer and a late Christophe Berra goal turned the game on its head. The back-to-back wins leave Ipswich just 2 points behind 6th placed Reading and another win on Saturday could see them return to the top six for the first time since December. This week the Football League announced the top 10 players of the year and Aaron Cresswell was 9th on the list after having a great season. He has been consistent all year at the back and is this game’s key man.

In the space of 7 days Nottingham Forest have fallen into turmoil. If things were not bad enough with the 5-0 defeat to rivals Derby last week and the sacking of Billy Davies, they have now lead to becoming the butt of everyone’s jokes. More managers have ruled themselves out of the job than shown an interest as talks fell through with clear first choice Neil Warnock and Stuart Pearce stating he would not come back to the City Ground. To cap it all off a home defeat against Charlton on Tuesday saw Forest remain outside of the top six. Plenty of names have been banded around for the vacant post including Glenn Hoddle and Malky Mackay, but for the time being Gary Brazil remains in charge and has the difficult task of turning round results and ensuring that the season does not end in a whimper. The Reds finally confirmed the loan signing of Lee Peltier from Leeds and he will be available to come straight into the team.

Previous meeting: 0-0 draw

Match odds: Ipswich 6/5   Draw 9/4   Forest 23/10

Score prediction: 1-0 Ipswich win

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