Fulham vs Nottingham Forest. Sky Bet Championship.
Craven CottageAttendance22,076.
Friday 2 February 2018 11:09, UK
Fulham could hand debuts to Cyrus Christie and Aleksandar Mitrovic against Nottingham Forest.
The Cottagers signed right-back Christie from fellow Championship club Middlesbrough for an undisclosed fee on dedline day. Serbian striker Mitrovic was then a surprise arrival from Newcastle on loan until the summer.
Tom Cairney (knee) and Floyd Ayite (calf) could return after missing last weekend's 3-1 win at Barnsley.
A flurry of late transfer business before Wednesday's deadline gives Forest boss Aitor Karanka a host of decisions to make. A 3-0 home defeat to Preston could see Karanka shuffle his pack, with deadline day signings Ashkan Dejagah, Joe Lolley and the returning Adlene Guedioura all options - although a lack of football could mean the trio need time to get up to speed.
The east midlands outfit also recruited a quartet of loan signings with defender Tobias Figueiredo coming in from Sporting, Costel Pantilimon boosting the goalkeeping options from Watford, Lee Tomlin joining from Cardiff and Newcastle allowing Jack Colback to depart on a temporary deal. Veteran striker Daryl Murphy has yet to feature in 2018 and faces another fitness test.
Fulham haven't won three consecutive league matches against Nottingham Forest since October 1952 (four in a row).
Forest haven't ended on the losing side in both league matches against Fulham in a season since 2000/01, during which Fulham were promoted to the Premier League.
The Cottagers have won six of their last seven league games (D1), including each of the last four; they last won five or more in a row under Jean Tigana's stewardship (12 successive wins).
Forest have failed to score in five of their last six Championship games, although they won their last away game against current league leaders Wolves.
Fulham have scored a goal in the 88th minute or later in each of their last three Championship outings, winning with 90th minute goals against both Barnsley and Middlesbrough.
Indeed, Fulham have won 13 points from losing positions; two more points than any other Championship side.
Fulham are the form team in the Championship right now and they're showing no signs of slowing down in their pursuit of promotion. If they keep going the way they are then they'll be threatening the top two sooner or later as well.
Nottingham Forest were dismantled by Preston in midweek and they look like they're lacking in confidence at the moment. Strange things can happen in this league but this is surely three points for Fulham.
David Prutton predicts: 2-0 (15/2 with Sky Bet)
