SCOUT'S REPORT: NOTT'M FOREST

Club News


Cardiff City have only had to wait four days for an opportunity to atone for the disappointment of conceding a last-gasp equaliser against Barnsley. Billy Davies will bring his Nottingham Forest side to Cardiff City Stadium in what will be the second of three quick-fire home fixtures for the Bluebirds on Saturday.


The form team in the division, Forest have gone undefeated in their previous ten games, and just a month ago managed a 2-1 victory at second-placed Hull City. They are also the comeback kings of the nPower Championship, having gained twenty-four points from losing positions. That run has seen the team soar from mid-table to fifth, and a Play-Off place is now looking a safe bet, exactly what their manager targeted when he returned to the club for his second stint as boss in February.


are the main creators in the Forest ranks, with eleven and ten assists respectively.Simon Cox and Andy Reid has chipped in with eight (and has scored in his last six consecutive appearances) from midfield in a season during which he has attracted interest from numerous clubs in the top flight as he approaches his two-hundredth outing for the club. Republic of Ireland internationals Lewis McGugan, the striker on loan from Southampton, who has got eleven in all competitions. Billy Sharp Forest’s top scorer this season has been Key Players:


complete their regular defensive line-up.Elliott Ward and Norwich loanee Greg Halford, whose grandfather Ken Leek was part of Wales’ 1958 World Cup squad, has become the club’s first-choice goalkeeper. The much-travelled Karl Darlow, who made twelve appearances for Wales between 2005 and 2007. Following the departure of Lee Camp to Norwich in January, Danny CollinsForest’s captain is


also brings international experience having represented Poland.Radosław Majewski has Premier League experience with parent club West Bromwich Albion, while Gonzalo Jara also has plenty of experience of second tier football having previously represented Watford, Norwich and West Ham in the division. Chilean international defender Henri Lansbury, signed from Millwall in January, will make his second visit to CCS of the season after the Lions went down 1-0 here in December. Midfielder Darius HendersonThe experienced


Cardiff have won twenty of their forty-three matches against the club from the East Midlands, with Forest victorious in thirteen. The Welsh side’s biggest win was by four goals to one in the 1951/52 season, while Forest’s was a 3-0 win at Ninian Park in 76/77.Previous Meetings:


Last season, Cardiff saw off Forest by goal to nil twice in consecutive months, Joe Mason with the November goal at Cardiff City Stadium and Kenny Miller managing the same feat at the City Ground.


Nottingham Forest 3-1 Cardiff City (20/10/12)Last meeting:


A three-game winning streak for the Bluebirds was brought to an end at the City Ground. Two goals in two minutes in the first half put the home side firmly in control, Andy Reid getting the first via a free-kick and Spaniard Daniel Ayala, on loan from Norwich City, also got onto the score-sheet little over sixty seconds later.


Adlène Guedioura was sent off for his second booking. Tommy Smith hit the post and several Cardiff efforts were cleared off the line by the home side. Billy Sharp finished the game off just after the break, ensuring that celebrations were muted when Heiðar Helguson grabbed a consolation goal with fifteen minutes left to play, despite Forest going down to ten men in the closing stages as


Camp, Harding, Collins, Halford, Ayala, Gillett, Guedioura, Cohen, Reid (Moussi), 19 Cox (Majewski (Moloney)), Sharp. Not used: Evtimov, McGugan, Coppinger, Tudgay.Nottingham Forest Line-up:


Marshall, McNaughton (Mason), Taylor, Hudson, Connolly, Whittingham, Cowie, Conway (Noone), Gunnarsson (Gestede), Smith, Helguson. Not used: Lewis, Turner, Kim, Ralls.Cardiff City Line-up: