Preview: Nottingham Forest vs. Leeds United - prediction, team news, lineups

Nottingham Forest take on Leeds United at the City Ground on Saturday evening with the opportunity to close the gap on the second-placed Yorkshire giants to just one point.

As for the visitors, they make the trip to the East Midlands having lost three of their last four matches in the Championship.

Match preview

Having put together a seven-match winning streak earlier in the season, Leeds appeared to be well on course for automatic promotion, but that feeling has changed over the past two months.

While Marcelo Bielsa's side are hanging onto second position behind West Bromwich Albion, just nine points have been recorded from as many matches.

That would have been significantly worse had they not fought back from two goals adrift to overcome Millwall, a miracle revival which could not be repeated at home to lowly Wigan Athletic last weekend.

Bielsa may feel that a raise in the stakes will benefit his players, something which they will encounter in meetings with promotion rivals Forest, Brentford and Bristol City.

However, more setbacks will inevitably lead to Leeds dropping into the playoffs, putting them at risk of missing out on the top six come the end of the campaign.

Like Saturday's opponents, Forest also encountered a surprise setback last weekend, losing at Birmingham City after initially taking the lead.

Sabri Lamouchi was naturally left frustrated with a result which ended a seven-match unbeaten streak at the second tier, a run which had taken the club to the brink of moving past Leeds.

Nevertheless, with just four points separating the two teams heading into their upcoming clash, as well as Forest possessing the same margin over seventh-placed Preston North End, Lamouchi will put losing at St Andrew's into context.

Forest head into Saturday's showdown having netted in their last nine Championship fixtures, although top scorer Lewis Grabban has only netted twice in his most recent five outings.

Nottingham Forest Championship form: WDWDWL Nottingham Forest form (all competitions): LDWDWL

Leeds United Championship form: WDLLWL Leeds United form (all competitions): DLLLWL

Team News

Lamouchi could hand a first start to Adama Diakhaby, who has recently joined Forest on a loan deal from Huddersfield Town.

That would likely see Sammy Ameobi drop down to the substitutes' bench, while Alfa Semedo is pushing for his first start since the FA Cup defeat at Chelsea.

As for Leeds, Bielsa continues to be without the services of Kalvin Phillips, who serves the last match of his three-game suspension.

Jean-Kevin Augustin will hope to feature among the replacements for the first time after signing on loan from RB Leipzig.

However, no changes are expected to the first XI with Bielsa tending to keep faith in his senior players.

Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup: Samba; Cash, Figueirdo, Worrall, Ribeiro; Watson, Yates; Lolley, Silva, Diakhaby; Grabban

Leeds United possible starting lineup: Casilla; Ayling, Cooper, White, Alioski; Klich, Hernandez, Dallas; Costa, Harrison, Bamford

We say: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Leeds United

With Leeds performing as they are, we cannot back them to pick up any points this weekend. While Forest were stunned by Birmingham in their last outing, Lamouchi will expect a positive response from his team at the City Ground.