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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
John McDougall

Twenty games which could decide promotion race as Nottingham Forest prepare for return

The countdown is on for Nottingham Forest's return to action, with Sabri Lamouchi's men targeting a place in the Premier League when games get back underway.

The season will resume on June 20 and all Championship teams have nine fixtures left to play.

The battle for promotion promises to be fiercely contested, given the table is still pretty tight.

The Reds currently sit in fifth spot, 11 points adrift of leaders Leeds United and 10 below second-placed West Bromwich Albion.

Fulham are third, four points ahead of Forest, while Brentford, in fourth, are level on points with the Reds.

Preston North End make up the top six, but a number of teams below them will no doubt still have designs on securing a play-off spot - including the likes of Bristol City, Millwall, Cardiff City, Blackburn Rovers, Swansea City, Derby County, QPR, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham City.

Preston and the Blues, who are 16th, are separated by just nine points.

We've picked out 20 games from the remaining clashes which could potentially be key in the race for the top-flight. They are based on the league as a whole, based on how the table stands, rather than those which might affect the Reds' own chances.

Matchday 38

Fulham v Brentford

The action recommences with a London derby and third taking on fourth at Craven Cottage.

Cardiff v Leeds

The current Championship leaders restart their season with a journey to a Cardiff side two points off the play-offs.

West Brom v Birmingham

The second-placed Baggies kick off their season again with a West Midlands derby at the Hawthorns.

Millwall v Derby

Two of the chasing pack clash in the first game back at The Den.

Matchday 39

Brentford v West Brom

The Bees take on Albion in the next match as Thomas Franks’ men aim to close the gap on the top two.

Preston v Cardiff

One of the chasing pack heads to Deepdale to take on a Lilywhites side they are only two points behind at present.

Leeds v Fulham

A huge game at Elland Road in prospect as the Cottagers, currently third, head to West Yorkshire to take on the current league leaders.

Matchday 40

Nottingham Forest v Bristol City

Lee Johnson’s side head to the City Ground to take on one of the teams currently above them and in the play-off spots.

Bristol City manager Lee Johnson (PA)

Matchday 41

Blackburn v Leeds

A Roses derby at Ewood Park, with Marcelo Bielsa’s men taking on a Rovers side currently three points from sixth.

Derby v Nottingham Forest

The East Midlands derby could have added spice this season with Forest currently in the play-offs and Derby being one of the chasing pack.

Matchday 42

Cardiff v Blackburn

Potentially a key clash at the Cardiff City Stadium as two candidates among the sides chasing for the play-offs lock horns.

Sheffield Wednesday v Preston

One of the sides currently far away from the top six, Wednesday take on Preston in another Roses derby at Hillsborough.

Matchday 43

Preston v Nottingham Forest

The current fifth and sixth-placed sides take on one another at Deepdale.

Swansea v Leeds

The Swans are currently three points off the play-offs and Bielsa’s side could be near confirming their Premier League return by then.

Matchday 44

West Brom v Fulham

Another huge fixture at the top with only three games left of the season - and it may have a big say on which side gains automatic promotion.

Leeds v Barnsley

Though the Tykes are at the bottom of the division, the Yorkshire derby may well be another opportunity for the Whites to confirm promotion, if not done so already by this point.

Brentford v Preston

Fourth takes on sixth at Griffin Park with only three matches left in the race for the play-offs.

Millwall v Blackburn

Gary Rowett’s side are only two points from the play-offs and just one ahead of Rovers.

Matchday 45

Derby v Leeds

Another chance for Leeds to seal promotion if not done so already, but the Rams could still be in the hunt for the play-offs by this stage.

Matchday 46

Bristol City v Preston

If the table remains as it is with just a point between these sides for the final play-offs spot, a winner-takes-all clash could be on the cards at Ashton Gate.

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