Cardiff will be without Kieffer Moore again for Sunday’s visit of Nottingham Forest (4pm). The Wales striker, who has been linked with a January move to Cardiff’s Sky Bet Championship rivals Bournemouth, has sat out the last four games and not played since December 30.
Manager Steve Morison says an ankle injection has prevented Moore’s return to full-time training and James Collins is set to lead the Bluebirds’ attack. Loan signing Tommy Doyle will make his home debut after the Manchester City midfielder’s impressive bow at Bristol City last weekend.
Forest are still without Alex Mighten and Joe Lolley due to knee injuries. Reds boss Steve Cooper hopes Mighten will rejoin training with his first-team squad next week, while Lolley is a little further behind in his rehabilitation.
Braian Ojeda and Mohamed Drager are away on international duty and there will be much focus on Brennan Johnson. The Wales winger has scored four goals in his last seven Championship appearances and Forest are determined to retain his services despite strong interest from Premier League club Brentford.
Sky's David Prutton predicts:
Cardiff are not having a good time of it right now under Steve Morison. They start the weekend three points above the drop zone, and are only not in it because of the sides with points deductions below.
Nottingham Forest are riding high off the back of three straight wins and a victory in the East Midlands derby. It's hard to see them not making it four in a row here.
David Prutton predicts: 1-2
Match facts
- Cardiff have won 11 of their last 14 league meetings with Nottingham Forest (D1 L2); however, they have lost their last two home games against them.
- The away team has won nine of the last 12 league meetings between Cardiff and Nottingham Forest (D1 L2), including each of the last five in a row.
- Cardiff have lost nine of their last 10 home league games (W1), failing to score in seven of these defeats.
- Since Steve Cooper’s first weekend of charge of the club in September, only Fulham (41) have earned more points in the Championship than Nottingham Forest (39, coming into this weekend’s games).
- Cardiff are without a clean sheet in 24 league matches, their worst run since going 34 games without one between October 1933 and August 1934.
Match Officials:
Referee: DAVID WEBB
Adam Crysell and Robert Hyde
Fourth Official : Keith Stroud