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

Nottingham Forest play host to Cardiff City on Sunday afternoon looking to move off the bottom of the Championship table.

While Forest remain without a league win this season, Cardiff lost their first game before the international break to drop down to ninth position.

Match preview

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When Forest were trailing to rivals Derby County during the last game before the two-week interval, Chris Hughton would have inevitably had concerns about his future at the City Ground.

However, Brennan Johnson's 82nd-minute equaliser gave the veteran boss a stay of execution, at least in the short term as Forest desperately look for solutions at both ends of the pitch.

Six new players were signed during the closing days of the transfer window, full-backs Max Lowe and Djed Spence being the most notable additions.

Hughton will also hope that Portuguese forward Xande Silva, who failed to make an impression at West Ham United, can enjoy a more productive period in the second tier of English football.

None of this Forest squad have netted more than once this season with Johnson and Philip Zinckernagel the only players to make any sort of impact in the final third.

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As far as Cardiff are concerned, Mick McCarthy will be keen to see an immediate response to their disappointing home defeat against Bristol City.

Albeit temporarily, the Bluebirds would have moved to the top of the standings, but Andreas Weimann's double has left the Welsh outfit closer to mid-table.

Even though McCarthy will be relatively satisfied with Cardiff's opening to the campaign, they are yet to fully convince in defence or attack.

On the plus side, Cardiff were able to retain the services of key man Kieffer Moore, rejecting at least one offer from Wolverhampton Wanderers during the closing days of the transfer window.

Team News

Spence is in line to be handed an immediate debut by Hughton, but Gaetan Bong may be preferred to Lowe at left-back.

Alex Mighten could return to the Forest XI as a replacement for Joao Carvalho, while Lyle Taylor will hope to keep his place ahead of Lewis Grabban.

Rubin Colwill is pushing for a recall to the Cardiff side, potentially getting the nod over Leandro Bacuna.

Moore should feature in the Bluebirds attack after being forced to miss international duty with Wales for coronavirus-related reasons.

Mark Harris, who deputised for Moore with the Dragons, will remain on the substitutes' bench.

Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:
Samba; Spence, McKenna, Worrall, Bong; Yates, Garner; Zinckernagel, Johnson, Mighten; Taylor

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Phillips; Morrison, Flint, Nelson; Sang, Ralls, Pack, Bagan; Colwill, Moore, Giles

We say: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Cardiff City

Having attempted to freshen up his squad at the end of last month, Hughton will hope for a change in fortunes at the weekend. However, despite the uncertainly over Moore's place in the team, we expect Cardiff to battle their way to a hard-fought win.