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

Nottingham Forest host Middlesbrough in the Championship on Wednesday night, hoping to secure their third successive league victory.

Meanwhile, Boro have recently suffered a dip in form after losing three of their last four games in all competitions.

Match preview

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Nottingham Forest won back-to-back matches for the first time since early November as they sealed a 3-1 victory at home to Millwall last weekend.

A brace from Sammy Ameobi as well as a strike from Ryan Yates helped Forest extend their unbeaten run to seven matches in all competitions.

Forest have struggled for goals this season, and the triumph over Millwall was the first time this season that they have scored three goals in a single game.

Manager Chris Hughton has turned his side's fortunes around in recent weeks which has seen the Reds begin to climb away from danger. At the start of December, Forest were hovering precariously above the relegation zone only by goal difference, but after three wins and three draws the Reds have moved up to 19th place, six points clear of the drop zone.

Forest have an impressive home record against Middlesbrough, losing only two of their last 23 matches against them at the City Ground.

Victory on Wednesday would be their seventh in the Championship this season and could see them move as high as 16th in the table, their highest position all season.

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Middlesbrough would have expected to claim all three points when they welcomed an out of form Birmingham City team to the Riverside, however former boss Aitor Karanka helped guide the Blues to a slender 1-0 away victory, with the home side walking away with nothing but disappointment.

Neil Warnock 's men have looked impressive at the Riverside this campaign and Saturday's defeat was only their second at home all season from 11 Championship matches played.

However, Boro have recently slipped out of the playoffs, down one place to seventh, although they do have one or two games in hand on the teams around them.

One of the main positives Middlesbrough can take from their season so far is their defensive solidity. Warnock's men are one of only three sides in the Championship to have conceded fewer than 20 goals and they have also kept nine clean sheets - only Swansea City and Stoke City have more.

Despite last weekend's defeat, Boro will take confidence into Wednesday's game as they face a Forest side that they beat earlier in the campaign, with Marvin Johnson 's goal enough to earn a 1-0 victory back in October.

Another three points secured against Forest could move Middlesbrough back into the playoffs, depending on whether Watford claim victory against Barnsley on Tuesday.

Nottingham Forest Championship form: WDDDWW

Nottingham Forest form (all competitions): DDDWWW

Middlesbrough Championship form: WWWLWL

Middlesbrough form (all competitions): WWLWLL

Team News

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Nottingham Forest midfielder Luke Freeman is expected to remain out for a couple more weeks, as the Sheffield United loanee has only recently returned to first team training after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a hernia problem.

Jack Colback is a doubt for Wednesday but manager Chris Hughton has every other player available to choose from.

Hughton may decide to name an unchanged starting lineup following an impressive display against Millwall.

Middlesbrough midfielder Marcus Browne (knee) and defender Grant Hall (thigh) are both unavailable for selection with injuries, while Ashley Fletcher is close to a full recovery but remains out with a hamstring problem.

Neil Warnock could have Duncan Watmore available to start the match, which would likely see Hayden Coulson drop to the bench.

Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:

Samba; Christie, Worrall, McKenna, Ribeiro; Sow, Yates; Ameobi, Cafu, Mighten; Grabban

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:

Bettinelli; Dijksteel, Fry, McNair, Bola; Howson, Morsy, Saville; Tavernier, Watmore; Assombalonga

We say: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Middlesbrough

A cagey Championship contest between two defensively solid sides is to be expected on Wednesday evening. Two of the last three fixtures between Forest and Boro have ended all square and with not much separating the two teams, we expect another draw at the City Ground.

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