Three key battles that could decide Bristol City v Nottingham Forest

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Nottingham Forest go head-to-head with Bristol City on Saturday looking to cement their place in the top six of the Championship.

The Reds defeated Derby County 1-0 last time out and will head to Ashton Gate in confident spirits.

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It hasn’t proved a happy hunting ground for Forest over the years and Sabri Lamouchi will be under no illusions of the size of Saturday’s task.

Ahead of the massive Championship six-pointer, Nottingham Forest News looked at three key battles that could decide this weekend’s game:

Josh Brownhill v Ryan Yates

The Bristol City captain is a massive part of how Lee Johnson’s team play and on his day he is one of the best midfielders in the Championship.

Yates is likely to maintain his place in the middle of the park and Brownhill’s energy levels must be matched by the Forest youngster.

The Reds can ill-afford to let the ex-Preston player get into his stride and this will arguably be Yates’ toughest test since returning to the team following injury.

Andreas Weimann v Joe Worrall

The ex-Derby man has proved a thorn in the side of Forest in the past and was a nuisance in Martin O’Neill’s first game in charge of the Reds last season.

Weimann has netted six goals and registered two assists so far this season and Worrall will need to be on top form on Saturday.

The Forest academy graduate has come on leaps and bounds this season and he can expect another tough test from the lively Bristol frontman this weekend.

Ashley Williams v Joe Lolley

The former Everton defender isn’t getting any younger but he has looked reasonably solid as part of a back three deployed by Lee Johnson.

That said, he doesn’t boast lots of pace and if Lolley is allowed the freedom to get at the veteran there could be some joy to be had.

Of course, that would mean the 27-year-old occasionally coming into the centre more often, but at his marauding best, the Forest star covers various parts of the pitch anyway.

Williams could prove the Robins’ weak link at the back and Forest will look to exploit that.