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

Steve Cooper makes his return to South Wales with his Nottingham Forest side having moved one point ahead of former club Swansea City in the Championship table.

With both teams safely in mid-table, this is an opportunity to close the growing gap to the playoffs, currently standing at seven and six points respectively.

Match preview

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While Swansea supporters may be focusing on the return of their former boss, his replacement Russell Martin will only be interested in trying to end the club's poor run of form.

Just four points have been collected from a possible 15, their sole victory during that period coming against a struggling Barnsley side.

Back-to-back defeats to Reading and Middlesbrough have left Swansea down in 14th position, albeit still 11 points above the relegation zone.

That should never be an issue for the Welsh club, but Martin is aware that his honeymoon period at the Swans is now over as he contemplates how to move last season's playoff finalists back up the table.

Their fortunes are unlikely to change unless Jamie Paterson and Joel Piroe receive more help in the final third, the pair scoring all but seven of Swansea's league goals this campaign.

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As for Cooper, he will take his spot in the away dugout having suffered just one defeat - against Fulham - in 13 matches in charge of Forest.

While six draws have also been recorded during that time, Forest are third in the form table since Cooper arrived at the City Ground.

Just 11 goals have been conceded in those games, four against the Cottagers, but the East Midlands giants need to find more of a ruthless streak in the final third.

The 2-0 victory over Peterborough United last weekend ended a wait of 338 minutes for a goal, and it has been four games since either Lewis Grabban or Lyle Taylor found the back of the net.

Team News

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Martin will likely make at least one change to his Swansea XI with Olivier Ntcham expected to come in for Korey Smith.

Joel Latibeaudiere and Ryan Bennett are alternatives in defence, while Jake Bidwell may return on the left-hand side.

As for Forest, Cooper could be prepared to stick with the starting lineup from the win over Peterborough.

While Cafu is an option if Braian Ojeda drops out of the team, the latter is favourite to get the nod in midfield.

Despite going three games without a goal, Grabban should retain his spot in attack.

Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Hamer; Bennett, Naughton, Williams; Laird, Grimes, Downes, Bidwell; Ntcham, Paterson; Piroe

Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:
Samba; Spence, Worrall, McKenna, Colback; Ojeda, Yates; Johnson, Garner, Zinckernagel; Grabban

We say: Swansea City 1-2 Nottingham Forest

Neither club are strangers to a draw this season, and it would come as no surprise if that was the final result at the weekend. However, there is leeway to push for all three points during the closing stages, something which may play into the favour of the visitors.

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