Leeds United have had a pretty poor start to the season, arguably not helped by the constant chopping and changing by Italian chairman Massimo Cellino. Neil Redfearn is now currently in charge of Leeds for the second time this season and is trying to steady the boat. However, it has been a very difficult situation to try and control but he has managed to pick up several impressive results here and there. On their day, Leeds can still be a very good team at this level but too many times this season they have failed to turn up and been punished. The last time they did turn up was on the 29th November at home to our arch rivals Derby County when they won 2-0 with a very impressive performance. Mirco Antenucci scored twice, and will prove a significant threat to Forest's defence this weekend. He is probably the stand out player for Leeds and is a lethal finisher in front of goal. Leeds have since then performed very poorly losing their last two games. The first one of these was when they lost 4-1 at Ipswich Town followed up by a 1-0 defeat at home to Fulham. This could suggest that Leeds are low on confidence and there for the taking. In comparison, Forest's form hasn't been much better of late. Since winning 3-0 at Molineux around a month ago, Forest have lost one and drawn two. The performances haven't been good enough, and the team will have to start performing a lot better if they hope to achieve anything at the end of this season. Forest are now sitting five points off the play-off places, a number which seems to be increasing alarmingly every week. You would have to say that this sort of game is a must win if Forest want to get anywhere near those play-off places come the end of the campaign. Last time out Forest took part in a very dull 0-0 affair at the New York Stadium against Rotherham. Forest will look to produce a much better spectacle this time out.
Hugo Rodallega celebrates securing a 1-0 win for Fulham at Elland Road last weekend.
Stuart Pearce confirmed this week that he has a fully fit squad to choose from this week excluding the long-term injuries to Jack Hobbs, Andy Reid and Chris Cohen. It is also hoped that Jack Hobbs and Andy Reid should return shortly to match fitness which would be a huge boost to Forest and their promotion aspirations. The competition for places will be high and Stuart Pearce is again likely to make changes here and there to his team from the one which started last weekend against Rotherham United. Forest this week were hit by a transfer embargo, making the return of Jack Hobbs and Andy Reid become even more important in the coming weeks.
My prediction for this game is Nottingham Forest 1-1 Leeds United. I think both are performing pretty poorly at the moment, and I think it will end up being a score draw. I think Leeds could take advantage of Forest's usually very poor starts and go 1-0 up. I then think Forest might just have enough to find an equalizer and take a point away from the game. Hopefully, I am wrong and Forest produce a much improved performance from the ones they have been producing recently but I seem to be saying this every week and it just never happens. A win would provide a massive boost ahead of what already looks like a massively difficult task away at Middlesbrough on Boxing Day.
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