Go low at the City Ground

26Dec 2012

England - The Championship

Goals will be a premium when Leeds travel to Nottingham Forest, for the day's early kick-off, predicts Andy Tongue...

Nottingham Forest v Leeds

Wednesday 26th December, 12:15 GMT

Live on Sky Sports One

A cracking Boxing Day game is in prospect as Leeds make the trip down the M1 to the City Ground, looking to build on Saturday's impressive win at home to Middlesbrough, which lifted them to within two places and two points of the play-offs.

Nottingham Forest

One of the many sides in the Championship who are quite capable of beating any other on their day but are desperately seeking some consistency, Forest have not been at their best lately and need to try and string together a little run of decent results. Deservedly beaten 2-0 at Watford on Saturday, they have just won one of their last five matches. Nobody in the top half of the table has scored fewer times than Sean O'Driscoll's side, which is a surprise given they can call upon the likes of Dexter Blackstock, Billy Sharp and Simon Cox in attack. Of their five wins at home this season only one, Cardiff, has come against a side in the top half of the table.

Leeds

Neil Warnock's side celebrated the news that they had new Dubai-based owners with that 2-1 victory over Boro, both goals coming from star striker Luciano Becchio. The Argentinean striker has 15 goals from 21 starts, while nobody else has more than the paltry four El-Hadji Diouf has managed from 22 appearances. The recent arrival of Jerome Thomas on-loan from West Brom is a boost as the tricky winger is a potent attacking threat at this level. However, Leeds' league position is a result of their good home form - with five defeats already on their travels they are clearly not a reliable betting proposition away from Elland Road.

Goals

With question marks over both sides consistency we'll steer clear of the main match odds market and home in on the likely number of goals (or lack of them as we suspect may be the case). Neither side are prolific in attack and chances may well be at a premium. Backing under 2.5 goals 2.02 and also a small play on under 1.5 goals 3.9 is our recommended plan for this fixture.

First Goalscorer

If it is the visitors who do strike first, then the chances are it will be Becchio who is the scorer. He is also their penalty taker and has converted four times from the spot so far this season so is worth backing in the first goalscorer market.

Recommended Bet

Back under 2.5 goals at 2.02