West Brom v Nottingham Forest - Live on Sky

grenache

Its second v third in the Championship's big game this weekend. Two teams who like to play football, should be a cracker. It will go a long way to deciding who finishes second this season. Live on Sky, Friday night @ 7.45pm

Team News

Forest are boosted by the return of left-back Nicky Shorey, who is available again after being ineligible for the Birmingham cup-tie under the terms of his loan from Aston Villa. His return allows Chris Gunter to move to his more accustomed role at right-back. Otherwise Forest have no new injury worries but are still without long term absentees Julian Bennett (knee) and Guy Moussi (ankle).

West Brom have doubts surrounding left-back Joe Mattock, who is carrying a back strain, but they hope to be able to give a debut to new loan-signing Gabriel Tamas. The 26 year old centre half, a Romainian international, has joined from Auxerre until the end of the season, subject to him being granted a work permit and international clearance.

Match Preview

Third-placed Forest have been breathing down the necks of second-placed Albion for some time, and now get the chance to leapfrog them in the Championship table.

West Brom have won their last three matches and are the top scorers in the division, having netted 48 goals in 23 matches this season.

They are likely to need all their firepower against an in-form Forest side that has not conceded a goal in nearly 8 hours of league football and is unbeaten in 17 matches.

The last team to score against Billy Davies' team was Leicester City - and that goal came in a 5-1 victory for Forest a month ago.


Head to Head

• West Brom, who won at the City Ground in August, could complete a league double over Forest for the first time since 2001/02.


• The last four league matches between these clubs have been won by the club playing away from home.

West Bromwich Albion

• West Brom boast the best goal difference in the Championship (+26).

Nottingham Forest

• Forest have won three and lost one of their four Midlands derbies in the Championship this season.

• A goal for Dexter Blackstock would be the 50th of the striker's league career.

Ping Chow Chi

yyyouuuuuuu rrreeeeddddsssssssssssssss!

grenache

Ping Chow Chi wrote: »

yyyouuuuuuu rrreeeeddddsssssssssssssss!

I'm predicting...

West Brom 0-0 Forest

Headshot

draw written all over

forest the draw specialist away from home, great stuff from them

kinaldo

Will try to catch this since these two are probably the best footballing sides in the division and both are in-form. Will also be loudly cheering on Forest even though it's probably better from my Newky perspective that they lose.

grenache

Headshot wrote: »

draw written all over

forest the draw specialist away from home, great stuff from them

that's true, although we've not been beaten yet either.

Epicurus

grenache wrote: »

that's true, although we've not been beaten yet either.

And seen as West Brom cant seem to buy a victory at home against a top 10 side this season; cant see any different tomorrow

grenache

Epicurus wrote: »

And seen as West Brom cant seem to buy a victory at home against a top 10 side this season; cant see any different tomorrow

I can only hope you're right, a lot will depend on what kind of forward line Davies decides to put out, i'm hoping it will be Earnshaw and Blackstock but most likely it will be McGoldrick and Adebola.

Victor Chandler is sponsoring the Baggies tomorrow, part of West Brom's one off shirt deals this season. Meaning the betting company will be on both teams shirts. Not often that happens.

http://www.wba.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~1925097,00.html

That_Guy

Draw please.

grenache

Ping Chow Chi wrote: »

yyyouuuuuuu rrreeeeddddsssssssssssssss!

forest playing 4-5-1, with blackstock upfront on his own, it'll be a smash and grab raid if we can do it. We'll have a right job on our hands keeping Thomas and Dorrans quiet. Thomas is a bloody wizard on the wing.

grenache

1-0 to Forest. Tidy finish from Blackstock. This will suit us perfectly, they'll have to come out and play. We'll see what the Baggies are made of!

grenache

Fantastic result, an even better display. We murdered them for the first hour. They battered us for the final 30 mins. Even at 3-1 up West Brom were so so dangerous but we held out. Fantastic game of football, really good advert for The Championship, the most entertaining league in England.