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

Stoke City welcome Nottingham Forest to the bet365 Stadium on Tuesday evening sitting two points adrift of the Championship playoff places.

Meanwhile, Forest make the short trip to the Potteries having put together a three-match unbeaten streak, a run which has kept the club outside of the relegation zone.

Match preview

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With Tyrese Campbell sidelined for the rest of the season, it appears inevitable that Stoke boss Michael O'Neill will look to bring in another striker during the January transfer window.

However, until they are able to find an option which fits in with their plans to cope with FFP, O'Neill needs more from his current forward line with the team having now scored just three times in half a dozen league fixtures.

Recording four clean sheets in succession means that the Potters have been able to remain in contention for the top six, but such form in that part of the pitch is unlikely to last in the long term.

The return of Joe Allen is a huge plus for the squad with the Wales international having missed nine months of action with an Achilles injury.

For now, though, O'Neill must rely on other members of the group, putting the pressure on Steven Fletcher to quickly end a run of five league appearances without a goal.

Like their hosts, Forest enter this fixture with very little form in the final third of the pitch, their latest blank coming at home to Birmingham City on Boxing Day.

While five goals were scored in their previous four fixtures, only the three teams in the relegation zone have a worse attacking record than Chris Hughton 's outfit.

Registering five points from their last three fixtures is a significant step in the right direction for a club which have not recovered from blowing a playoff spot last season.

Nevertheless, Forest will not move out of trouble until Lewis Grabban and Lyle Taylor are able to add to their combined five goals for the campaign on a regular basis.

Stoke City Championship form: WLDDWD

Nottingham Forest Championship form: LLLWDD

Team News

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Joe Lolley and Anthony Knockaert are both pushing for recalls to the Forest XI, potentially in place of Sammy Ameobi and Alex Mighten.

Taylor may come in for Grabban down the middle of the attack, but the team could remain the same in defensive and central areas.

Stoke manager O'Neill may potentially name the same side which started the goalless draw at Coventry.

However, while Allen will not be considered for a first start of the season, Josh Tymon, Thomas Ince and Sam Vokes are all options should O'Neill wish to introduce some fresh legs.

Stoke City possible starting lineup:

Bursik; Collins, Souttar, Chester; Smith, Powell, Cousins, Thompson, McClean; Fletcher, Brown

Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:

Samba; Christie, Figueiredo, Worrall, Ribeiro; Yates, Sow; Lolley, Cafu, Knockaert; Taylor

We say: Stoke City 1-0 Nottingham Forest

While one of these teams is making a habit of keeping clean sheets, the other is trying to end one when it comes to misfiring in the final third. There should not be many goals in this fixture, and we expect the home side to battle their way to a narrow success.

Top betting tip

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