Eng. Championship
2012-04-14 - Nottingham Forest vs Blackpool
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Championship
Saturday 14 April 2012 - Kick Off 3pm
Nottingham Forest
Back in August, Steve McClaren was in charge of Nottingham Forest and there were some real expectations from what was going to happen this season. However, it hasn't turned out that well, although Steve Cotterill has managed to help them turn a corner at just the right time of the season.
For a long time, it seemed that Forest were heading for relegation back to League One after being one of the favourites for promotion. However, they picked up some form and are now 20th in the Championship with a 7 point gap between themselves and the relegation zone. They are 5-4-12 at the City Ground this season, scoring just 19 goals and conceding 32.
They have picked up 11 points from the last 18 available in the Championship which has seen them almost seal their place in the Division for another season. However, the majority of their successes have come away from home and they have won just 2 of their last 12 League games at the City Ground. Forest have lost 2 of their last 4 here, including a 0-1 loss to Bristol City last week, and they also avoided defeat to Brighton thanks to an injury time equaliser.
Gareth McCleary is suspended after being sent off at Peterborough United. Guy Moussi is a doubt and needs a late fitness test.
Blackpool
Ian Holloway will be looking for his side to secure their place in the Championship Play Offs by winning their last 4 League games and hopefully build the momentum that they could ride all the way through to the Premier League.
The team are 5th in the Championship, but they currently have a 4 point advantage over Brighton in the first of the places outside of the Play Off berths. Blackpool have a 7-6-8 record away from home this season, scoring 35 goals and conceding 36.
Blackpool have only lost 1 of their last 6 games in the Championship, but only managed a 1-1 home draw with Barnsley last time out as they played the majority of that game with ten men. They had lost 3 in a row away from home in the League before beating Watford 0-2 last time out on Good Friday.
Kevin Phillips look set to miss this game, but he should be ready to play in time for the Play Offs. Keith Southern is suspended having been sent off against Barnsley and misses the game alongside Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Roman Bednar.
Head to Head
Nottingham Forest won 1-2 at Bloomfield Road back in October.
This will be the first game between the sides at the City Ground since they met in the 2009/10 season.
They actually met twice here that season, with Blackpool winning in the regular season as well as the Play Off game on the way to the Premier League.
Prediction
I am a little surprised that Blackpool are considered such underdogs in this game considering they have been in decent form recently and Nottingham Forest have struggled at home for much of the season.
Forest don't score enough goals in front of their own fans and they could have a really tough task against a Blackpool team that has goals in the side and one that will not sit back and hope for things to happen.
Blackpool had lost 3 in a row away from home before an impressive win at Watford last time out, while Forest have lost 2 out of 4 games here with one of the games they avoided a defeat thanks to a last minute equaliser.
With the current form of the sides, I am just surprised that Blackpool are the big outsiders and I will take my chances on them winning this game.
The Pick :
Nottingham Forest 1-2 Blackpool
