2019-20 Sky Bet Championship: Week 17 – Saturday

Saturday’s big Sky Bet Championship match sees Bristol City take on Nottingham Forest at Ashton Gate. 

Both teams come into this match tied on 28 points and occupying the final play-off spots, making this a must win if either team are to kick on in their promotion charges. 

 

Team news

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Famara Diedhiou is available for Nottingham Forest after serving a three match suspension. 

Korey Smith (foot) and Jack Hunt (hamstring) could feature but Jay Dasilva (leg) and Benik Afobe (knee) are out. 

Forest are set to have Michael Dawson available after he missed the last two months with a calf injury. 

Carl Jenkinson (ankle), Yohan Benalouane, Nelson Semedo (both back) and Michael Hefele (Achilles) could also feature, although the latter pair are doubts. 

 

Form

Bristol City enter this game unbeaten in their last four with two wins and draws apiece, although their only clean sheet came at Cardiff last time out. 

Forest have won three of their last five but haven’t kept a clean sheet in their last four away games, since beating Swansea in their first game after September’s international break. 

 

Stat Attack

• Bristol City have lost just one of their last five meetings with Nottingham Forest (W2, D2, L1). 
• Forest have won just one of their last 12 trips to Ashton Gate (W4, D7, L1), winning 3-2 in April 2011. 
• Bristol City’s Benik Afobe and Forest’s Lewis Grabban are the only players across both teams to score a brace this season, with both doing so away against Derby and Fulham respectively on same date – 24 August. 

 

Prediction

With a hectic winter run of fixtures, what happens here could very well make or break the promotion hopes of both teams. 

I therefore am expecting the Robins to continue playing their quality attacking football, whereas Forest will try and pick them off via a mix of ball movements and the counter. 

A draw therefore has to be the best bet because both teams aren’t strong enough defensively to keep a clean sheet.

Prediction: Bristol City 1-1 Nottingham Forest

Result: Bristol City 0-0 Nottingham Forest