Nothing better than a midweek fixture under the lights of the City Ground and tonight Nottingham Forest will be looking to continue their recent good form by taking three points at home to Middlesbrough.

Jonathan Woodgate’s men have struggled this season and lie 19^th but Boro have picked up some form in recent weeks and are unbeaten in three after beating Barnsley and drawing with Hull and QPR but Forest should be too strong although how often have we said that in the Championship before being left with egg on our face?

Forest have struggled at home this season and have the 18^th best home record in the division which to suggest they currently sit in fifth place in the league tells you a story about where things might be going wrong?

A much needed win at the City Ground will take Forest onto 36 points from 20 played and with a game in hand on those above will be a significant boost in the clubs playoff and promotion push whilst a defeat could see them slip further away from the top two of West Brom and Leeds who are already 12 and 10 points above the Reds respectively.

Forest are without Yuri Ribeiro, Samba Sow, Yohan Benalouane, Michael Hefele and Carl Jenkinson but Ryan Yates returns following his three match suspension after getting sent off at Bristol City.

Middlesbrough are awaiting results of a scan before deciding whether former Reds striker Britt Assombalonga is fit enough to start the game whilst the Boro will be boosted from the returns of Paddy McNair and Marvin Johnson through suspension although Lewis Wing may miss out with injury although he could be on the bench after training earlier this week.

Forest go in to tonight’s match with a further home match on Saturday against Sheffield Wednesday with Manager Sabri Lamouchi stating “We are working for two victories and it is a great opportunity. Playing at home, we know we are expected to take the maximum points. We know the situation in The City Ground but we just need to give confidence to the players.”

“The way we have played is right and we need to have that winning mentality to take our chances in the box, be more efficient in front of goal. The commitment is good, we are creating chances so we just need to be more efficient.”

Facing up against Middlesbrough tonight he mentioned  “It won’t be an easy game, for sure, and my players know that. We will face a team with decent results in the last five games, just one defeat against Leeds. It is not easy to play against them.”

“I am focused on us because at home we need take the game, to try and play and we need to improve. About the opponent, we know the problems they can cause at The City Ground but we have to play with confidence and trust in ourselves because we have been playing well at home. Unfortunately, it is not enough – last time against Cardiff we created a lot – and we need to take our chances and be more efficient in front of the goal.”

Kick Off is 7:45pm at the City Ground with a limited number of tickets still available.

*Main image @NFFC the City Ground pitch earlier this week looking in fantastic condition.