Cardiff sit one point ahead of automatic promotion rivals Fulham with a game in hand, as the Championship season heads to the finish line. Despite a recent two match losing streak, Cardiff have recovered and now look likely of gaining an automatic return to the Premier League at the expense of their London rivals.
Standing in Cardiff's way of three points on Saturday are Nottingham Forest. The Reds are doomed to another season in the Championship and occupy 17th place, currently. Forest should be safe from relegation as 11 points separate them from the drop with 12 to play for.
By the time this match kicks off at Cardiff, the Bluebirds could be outside the automatic playoff places. Fulham play on Friday evening and could move into second for 24-hours.
Cardiff come into the fixture having dispatched Norwich a week ago. The Bluebirds struggled to get the breakthrough for much of the fixture but found two goals in the final five minutes. Until their win over Norwich, Cardiff had been on a three-match winless run. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest's win last weekend put their six-match winless run to bed. Although neither team have been in great form over the last few weeks, both clubs will feel three points is up for the taking in Saturday's late game.
Cardiff's match against Nottingham Forest starts a run of games in which Neil Warnock's side will play three of four matches against teams in 16th place or lower. A rescheduled match against Derby is the only fixture the Bluebirds must play against a team in the top seven.
Warnock's team has been praised for its direct football that has bucked the trend of Championship teams. Cardiff are not afraid to get the ball to its strikers and completely bypass the midfield. It is a style of play that has secured the side 64 goals, the second most in the Championship. Meanwhile, the Bluebirds have conceded the fewest goals to opponents, allowing just 35.
Nottingham Forest hasn't got the sharpest attack at the league. The Reds have the fifth worst goal scoring record in the Championship (45). Until the teams 2-1 win over Ipswich last weekend, the Reds had been held scoreless in five straight games. Finding a goal against Cardiff and goalkeeper Neil Etheridge will be difficult. The goalkeeper has posted 17 clean sheets this season.
Cardiff will cruise past Nottingham Forest and Etheridge should keep his 18th clean sheet of the season. The Bluebirds may go into the weekend as the third-place team, but by the end of Saturday, Cardiff will return to second.