Nottingham Forest v Sheffield Wednesday preview: Championship clash live on Sky Sports red button
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Wednesday 19 September 2018 19:01, UK
Nottingham Forest could hand Claudio Yacob a debut at home to Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday night, after the former West Brom midfielder signed a two-year deal at the City Ground earlier this month.
Greece international Panagiotis Tachtsidis has also joined as a free agent and will hope to be included in the squad for the Sky Bet Championship clash at the City Ground, live on Sky Sports. Michael Dawson (calf) was only fit enough for a place on the bench in the goalless draw against Swansea last time out, but could play some part having had another three days to recover.
Sam Byram (ankle), Juan Rafael Fuentes and Hillal Soudani (both knee) remain long-term absentees.
Sheffield Wednesday will be without Fernando Forestieri, who has been given a three-match ban by the Football Association for his part in a fracas during a pre-season friendly against Mansfield. Sam Hutchinson may be included after recovering from a groin injury.
Sam Winnall is also close to a return following a cruciate ligament injury. Defender Joost van Aken is sidelined after suffering an ankle injury playing against Sunderland in the Carabao Cup.
Opta stats
Nottingham Forest have lost each of their last seven league matches against Sheffield Wednesday.
Sheffield Wednesday have won their last four league visits to the City Ground against Nottingham Forest by an aggregate score of 10-1.
In all competitions, Forest manager Aitor Karanka lost his first three meetings with Sheffield Wednesday - but the Spaniard has won his last three in a row.
Nottingham Forest have drawn three of their last four home league matches (W1), as many draws as in their previous 35 such games combined (P35 W17 D3 L15).
Sheffield Wednesday have not kept a clean sheet in the Championship in any of their last eight matches, this after a run of three successive shutouts in the competition.
Sheffield Wednesday's Kieran Lee has netted four goals in eight league games against Middlesbrough, against no other side has he scored more.
Prutton's prediction
Nottingham Forest are proving to be the draw specialists in the Championship yet again! They don't seem to have improved too much upon the second half of last season yet despite all the investment.
Sheffield Wednesday will have been delighted with the point against Stoke after falling two goals behind so early on. They are on a decent run and I can see that continuing here.
David Prutton predicts: 1-3 (40/1 with Sky Bet)
