MY ACCOUNT
Two teams harbouring hopes of securing automatic promotion to the Premier League face off on Tuesday night as Bournemouth host Nottingham Forest.
Bournemouth hold a three-point cushion on Forest with two games to go but victory for the visitors would see them leapfrog the Cherries into second courtesy of their much healthier goal difference.
It has been a remarkable rise up the rankings from Forest, who have won nine of their last ten league games to put themselves in promotion reckoning.
Scott Parker’s hosts, on the other hand, have lost only two of their last 17 league games, so something has to give at the Vitality Stadium.
A draw does no good for Forest, so they are likely to play on the front foot and that could well contribute to an entertaining encounter.
Victory for Bournemouth would be enough to send them up alongside the Cottagers.
Team news
Barring any unforeseen injuries, Parker is expected to name the same starting XI that recorded a comfortable 3-0 win at Blackburn on Saturday.
David Brooks, Leif Davis and Junior Stanislas remain sidelined for the Cherries but Welsh international Kieffer Moore is pushing for a start having netted twice in a 3-3 draw at Swansea just over a week ago.
Forest forward Lewis Grabban has an ankle injury, meaning he is ruled out of the trip to the south coast, and he joins Keinan Davis (hamstring) and Max Lowe (groin) on the treatment table.
Sam Surridge, Philip Zinckernagel and Jack Colback were considered doubts in the lead-up to Saturday’s 5-1 thrashing of Swansea but they were all starters, so are expected to be in action on Tuesday.
Match stats and facts
Courtesy of having home advantage, Bournemouth are favourites to come out on top, just as they did in the reverse fixture in August when winning 2-1.
However, Forest have come on a lot since then and have lost only three of their 23 competitive games in 2022.
In fact, the Tricky Trees have won 17 of those games and are chasing an eleventh win from their last 13 fixtures.
Forest were emphatic 5-1 winners at home to Swansea last time out and they have also recorded consecutive away wins at champions-elect Fulham and Peterborough.
Bournemouth are unbeaten in eight matches on home soil but the Cherries have drawn four of their last six, which includes being held by relegated Peterborough and a Reading side that are fourth from bottom.
Dominic Solanke has been key to Bournemouth’s success this season, netting 29 of their 72 league goals and also contributing with seven assists.
Only Fulham’s prolific Serbian forward Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored more in the Championship this term.
Meanwhile, Brennan Johnson has been as influential as anyone for Forest and the youngster’s performances have grabbed plenty of attention from clubs in the Premier League.
The winger has 15 goals and nine assists and with Grabban ruled out, is going to be key to their success at the Vitality Stadium.
Predictions
Confidence is so high in Nottingham Forest’s ranks at present that they are difficult to oppose against anyone and they look the likelier winners in their battle with Bournemouth.
Forest racked up 27 shots, 17 of which were on target, in Saturday’s 5-1 drubbing of Swansea, who had held Bournemouth to a 3-3 draw only four days earlier.
Steve Cooper’s side have been dominant at home but they have also claimed some notable scalps on their travels, which includes showing their mettle in a 1-0 win at leaders Fulham just over a week ago.
Despite sitting second, Bournemouth would be ninth in the table on home form alone and, interestingly, they have collected more points on the road than they have on their own patch.
