Monday night

Nottingham Forest V Carlisle

A very interesting tie is in store at The City Ground on Monday evening. Both sides are fighting it out for second spot in division one behind Swansea. Nottingham Forest sit in 4th place just 2 points behind their opponents. Home form this season has been good with 10 wins from 16. They are unbeaten in their last six home games, winning five of them, and drawing the other one. Their success has revolved around a mean defence, which has kept 4 successive clean sheets at home and 11 in total. 19 clean sheets is their overall record and Carlisle are going to have to be very creative up front to get any rewards here.
Manager Colin Calderwood has no fresh injury worries though Will Hoskins and Nathan Tyson are long term absentees.

Nottingham forest last 5 home games

Nott'm Forest 2 1 Huddersfield 01/01/2008
Nott'm Forest 4 0 Leyton O 12/01/2008
Nott'm Forest 0 0 Swansea 29/01/2008
Nott'm Forest 2 0 Millwall 09/02/2008
Nott'm Forest 1 0 Swindon 16/02/2008

Carlisle are playing very well this year and well in line for a playoff spot. However the difference between their home and away records have to be seen to be believed. 13 wins from 15 home games is a quite sensational return, made all the more impressive by the fact that he defeat came way back in early September. Since then they have claimed the scalps of high flying Doncaster, Leeds and Walsall amongst others. But, take them on the road and it’s a very different story, just 4 wins away from home and the lack of goals is a real concern. Just two goals in the last seven outings is a poor return. Add in the fact that they have gathered just 4 points from the last possible 28 and you see how important that home record is to their league ambitions. For the superstitious of you out there, John Ward has being named Coca-Cola League 1 Manager of the Month for February. Kiss of death perhaps? Anyhow he looks set to be without top scorer Joe Garner who injured himself in midweek action against Crewe. His replacement Scott Dobie cannot play either as he is a former Forest player and has a clause in his contract.

Carlisle’s last 5 away games

Doncaster 1 0 Carlisle 12/01/2008
Cheltenham 1 0 Carlisle 25/01/2008
Oldham 2 0 Carlisle 29/01/2008
Port Vale 1 1 Carlisle 09/02/2008
Crewe 0 1 Carlisle 26/02/2008

Verdict
A strong home side against a poor travelling away side without their top striker, seems a no brainer but it might be closer than people think. Nevertheless Nottingham forest should have enough strength in defence to keep Carlisle out and should do enough to take the three points and send Carlisle away empty handed.
1 or 2 - 0 to the home side is the call.

PICK
Nottingham Forest -0.5 ( 1.92 @ vc bet) 6 points