Former West Bromwich Albion striker Kevin Phillips has acknowledged Nottingham Forest will make it 'difficult' for the Baggies in what he anticipates being a 'really, really tight game'.
Both sides come into the match under the lights without picking up the number of points they'd have liked from recent outings, with neither side recording a win since returning from the November international break.
Forest have won just one of their last six, but Steve Cooper 's side have also only lost one of those matches, drawing the remaining four.
West Brom have faired similarly with just one win against Hull City in their last five coupled with losses to Fulham and Huddersfield Town on their travels which have seen them rapidly fall behind the top two and be dragged into the play-off battle.
Phillips is realistic about the task Valerien Ismael's side will be faced with at the Hawthorns tonight against a tough-to-beat Forest under Cooper.
“I think it’ll be difficult," he told West Brom News .
“Forest have hit some great form under new management and a new style of play. They’ll be full of confidence, but I see it being a really, really tight game.
“It’s a huge game for West Brom, and if they can get a result, it puts a bit of pressure on the top two if they can kickstart a little run over Christmas where the games come thick and fast.
“I’m going to go for a 2-1 win to the Baggies to get them back to winning ways.”
Former Forest player David Prutton has also made his predictions for how the Reds will fare on Friday night, but cannot split the two sides .
"Nottingham Forest are ticking along picking up points under Steve Cooper, but unless they can turn draws into wins, any push for the top six will elude them.
"I think this will be another draw that doesn't really suit either side."
