The Reds have a tough run-in for the final eight matches of the season.
Nottingham Forest fans protest against owner Fawaz Al-Hasawi
As the Championship season enters the business end of the campaign, where teams go up and down accordingly, Nottingham Forest have a huge fight on their hands to remain in the Championship.
With eight games to play, Forest are just one point above the drop zone, and have some critical fixtures – both home and away – to come. Here’s a prediction of their remaining matches.
1/4/17 – Preston North End (A)
Forest have won just two away games all season, and really, it seems unlikely that will change against a Preston side who still harbour faint play-off ambitions. Depending on results elsewhere, this could be the match which sees Forest drop into the relegation zone. Prediction: Preston North End 2-0 Nottingham Forest
4/4/17 – Wolverhampton Wanderers (A)
Simply put, Forest cannot lose this fixture. Wolves have had their own relegation battles to contend with, and are currently four points clear of Mark Warburton’s side. Just prior to the break, Wolves had picked up a bit of momentum, but with the stakes so high, you’d fancy Forest to get something out of it. Prediction: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest’s Jack Hobbs challenges Huddersfield Town’s Mustapha Carayol (2015/16 season)
8/4/17 – Huddersfield Town (H)
A few weeks ago, you’d have put everything you own on Huddersfield to win this match. However, after inexplicably losing 4-0 to Bristol City, serious questions regarding Huddersfield’s bottle have been asked. Towards the end of the season, there are normally shock results at both ends of the table, and this could well be one of them. Forest have defeated Newcastle United, Brighton and Hove Albion and Leeds United on home soil this season, and Huddersfield could well be added to that list. Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-0 Huddersfield Town
14/4/17 – Blackburn Rovers (H)
The proverbial six pointer. In short, Forest’s season hinges on this result. If they lose, they will probably go down. If they win, they would give themselves an outstanding chance of survival. Blackburn are still unbeaten under new manager Tony Mowbray’s guidance, and are level on points with Forest. Rovers have shown tremendous resilience, both home and away, in those seven matches, and this could well end up with the points shared. Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Blackburn Rovers
Jonny Williams of Nottingham Forest (C) in action with Craig Noone (L) and Aron Gunnarsson of Cardiff City (2015/16 season)
17/4/17 – Cardiff City (A)
It’s hard to see where Forest’s away day woes will end, meaning a trip to a Neil Warnock side’s home ground isn’t exactly desirable. The experienced manager will set up Cardiff in such a way that makes it incredibly difficult to be broken down, with defensive solidity Forest can only dream of. This may be one that the Reds have to take on the chin. Prediction: Cardiff City 2-0 Nottingham Forest
22/4/17 – Reading (H)
Reading looked shaky before the break, and even their 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday seemed fortunate given the amount of saves goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi had to make. The Royals are, however, still clinging onto a play-off spot, and with Fulham’s rise in form, will be defending that with their lives. Stalemate. Prediction: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Reading
Nottingham Forest’s Ben Osborn in action with QPR’s Nedum Onuoha (2015/16 season)
29/4/17 – Queens Park Rangers (A)
Forest’s last away day of the season will take place at Queens Park Rangers’ Loftus Road – the venue Forest were relegated to League One at last time, back in 2005. While history could repeat itself, you’d fancy Forest to get something against a side managed by Ian Holloway, whose QPR team at this stage of the season, should be on the proverbial beach. Prediction: Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Nottingham Forest
7/5/17 – Ipswich Town (H)
This really could be do or die for Forest, who by these calculations, would go into the final match of the season with 48 points. But for Mick McCarthy’s management skills at Ipswich Town, and the relegation drama could have already been decided, with the Tractor Boys slipping down the table at an alarming rate. With the lack of quality in the Ipswich side, and with home advantage, Forest should secure a win on the final day, and could even send Ipswich down as a result. Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Ipswich Town
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