Nottingham Forest vs Brighton Prediction – Brighton begin their final push for a playoff place against a mid-table Forest

So tight is the top of the Championship that, until a few weeks ago, there were still ten teams in line for a possible promotion. While Leicester have led the way, various teams have moved in and out of form and up and down the table. With the number of points dwindling, however, teams are being cut from the chase on a weekly basis. The latest such victim is Nottingham Forest, whose recent defeat has seen them drop down into eleventh. Brighton, however, are just a point away from the two possible promotion spots above them and will be breathing down the necks of Reading and Wigan, waiting for one to slip up. Their attacking 4-3-3 could prove just the ticket to overcoming Forest’s 4-4-1-1, with their quick passing in the centre of the park designed to cut open the two banks of four.

Form

As with many matches late in the season, many of the teams will enter their matches with a debatable amount of motivation. Forest are the latest example. Previously seen as a team with potential promotion aspirations, changes in management and series of strange boardroom events seem to have at last taken their toll on the pitch. A recent 4-1 defeat to Bournemouth seemed to finally kill their Premier League dreams and now, safe from relegation, their might well retire to the City Ground to lick their wounds and plan for next season.

Brighton are essentially in the opposite position. Despite a run of poor form a few weeks ago, they are now in the pole position among the teams outside of the top six. A point behind both Wigan and Reading, and with a comparable goal difference, the fact that they have not lost in seven indicates that they have their eyes firmly on the prize. With tough matches ahead for their rivals, they can be thankful that what once looked like a tricky fixture could well be a blessing in disguise.

Team News

Forest will be hoping that the talk of Matt Derbyshire with regards to playing for a new contract will translate onto the pitch. Likely to start up front on his own, Forest will be hoping that his partnership with Mackie goes someway to replacing the predicted absence of Reid, who has recently been named as part of the division’s team of the year. Dexter Blackstock is also set to be out, due to a FA charge being levied against him as well as an ankle knock.

On loan from Manchester United, striker/winger Jesse Lingard will be hoping for a final few matches in the playoffs to cap a successful loan spell. He is likely to start wide left and could run the Forest full backs ragged. Mathew Upson may miss out as he continues to struggle with fitness issues, though he has been doing his part to rally the troops in the final few weeks.

Nottingham Forest

P45 W16 D17 L12

DLWWL

Predicted Line-Up (4-4-1-1): de Vries; Halford, Lascelles, Collins, Harding; McLaighlin, Peltier, Vaughan, Osborn; Mackie; Derbyshire

Brighton

P45 W18 D15 L12

WWDDW

Predicted Line-Up (4-3-3): Kuszczak; Bruno, Greer, Dunk, Ward; Stephens, Andrews, Orlandi; Buckley, Ulloa, Linguard

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1 - 2 Brighton

Brighton are beginning to look formidable and will hope to carry this form into the playoffs.