Preview: Nottingham Forest vs. Reading

Two promotion hopefuls meet in this week's Friday night Championship fixture as Nottingham Forest host Reading at the City Ground.

Neither side has been in electric form of late and they have fallen behind the second tier's leading trio of Burnley, Leicester City and Queens Park Rangers.

Forest go into the match in fifth place, three places ahead of the Royals, who can leapfrog their opponents with an away victory.

If Nigel Adkins's side pull off an away win, they will put an end to a run of four games without a win.

The most likely change that Adkins will make to his side is to bring back Hal Robson-Kanu, perhaps in place of Adam Le Fondre.

Hosts Forest are struggling with injuries and manager Billy Davies now knows that captain Chris Cohen is out for the season after damaging his cruciate knee ligaments last weekend.

Centre-backs Danny Collins and Kelvin Wilson are other long-term absentees.

When these two last met back in the 2011-12 season, the home side won 1-0 in both league meetings.

Recent form

Forest: DWLLDW

Reading: DDLDWL

Possible starting lineups

Forest: Darlow; Lichaj, Hobbs, Lascelles, Jara; Mackie, Lansbury, Chalobah, Abdoun, Majewski, Cox

Reading: McCarthy; Gunter, Pearce, Gorkss, Kelly; Baird, Guthrie, Obita; McCleary, Pogrebnyak, Robson-Kanu

Sports Mole says: 2-2