After a weak start of recent campaign, Forest made an incredible run of 17 Championship games without a defeat. Nine players that club brought at summer transfer market simply needed some time to start perform as a squad. Forest exited FA Cup after a defeat on the road vs. Birmingham (0-1). On that game, manager Billy Davies made seven changes giving an opportunity to some fringe players. They used it very well as Forest were better opponent during the most part of the game. Davies can count on all players except striker Rob Earnshaw with a hamstring injury. They easily create chances and scored large amount of goals, while haven’t conceded more than one since August. Self confidence has been boosted after good performance in Birmingham, but also with a win against WBA on the road, before that.
After a departure of their legendary manager Steve Coppell, thing started to go wrong for Royals. The true is they simply don’t posses enough quality not just to progress, but to repeat results from previous seasons. Next boss also got fired in December after club didn’t manage to move from the bottom side of the table and now in charge is caretaker Brian McDermott. Till historic game at Enfield, he didn’t have too many results to be proud on. They’re in the run of five games without a win (two defeats and three draws). They probably got a huge amount of self confidence, but also playing 120 minutes against Reds surely affected on team’s fatigue, but also on lack of focus. Smaller clubs suffer of “first next game” syndrome and returning to Championship reality could be very painful, especially considering today’s opponent. Also, I’m wondering how much Liverpool’s offer for goalie Adam Federici could distract his concentration today. However, McDermott is set to include new signings, full-back Andy Griffin and striker Gunnar Thorvaldsson. Only one of their five league wins this season have been against a team in the top half of the table (Blackpool).
Hosts are clear favorites here. They’re playing in a great shape and spine of the team has been rested. Visitors will try to keep a clean sheet and reach a point, but against raging Forest it looks very unlikely. Odd on home win has risen (thankfully to Earnshaw’s injury and weekend punters that back Reading, I guess) and it represents a nice value. Home win and a handicap win as a gamble.
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Probably one more before the kick-off.
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After a weak start of recent campaign, 
