After a two-week break for international football, the Championship returns with a bang on Saturday afternoon.
Nottingham Forest travel to Bristol City looking to make it three straight wins, building on the three points they earned against Luton and Derby County whilst also denting the hopes of their promotion rivals.
Michael Dawson is fit and available for selection on the Avon, and he’s the one change fans would like to see from the starting XI which overcame the Rams last time out.
Dawson hasn’t featured since he limped off in the first half of Forest’s 3-2 win at Stoke in late September, though supporters would give him the nod above the unfortunate Tobias Figueiredo, such is his importance to the side.
The experienced defender would partner Joe Worrall in the heart of the Reds back four, in front of Brice Samba with Yuri Ribeiro and Matty Cash either side of the centre-backs.
Ryan Yates is picked to continue alongside Ben Watson in the holding midfield roles, while Joe Lolley, Tiago Silva and Sammy Ameobi would be deployed behind leading marksman Lewis Grabban in a potent-looking attack.
Sabri Lamouchi’s Reds dropped to sixth in the league on Friday night after Fulham came from behind to beat QPR, with City falling just outside the top six into seventh, but both clubs know a win at Ashton Gate would see them cement their spots back inside the play-off zone with a busy festive period coming into full view.
