Shored-up Nottingham Forest great value outside bet for promotion

Although 1/20 Cardiff still have promotion firmly within their own hands, the wobble Malky Mackay’s men are currently experiencing should be enough to deter punters from that immensely skinny price.

Instead, much better value can be found from backing a play-off chasing hope to make the top flight, and Nottingham Forest look a standout call at 8/1.

In and around the top half of the table for much of the season, it was a surprise to many that Forest relieved Sean O’Driscoll of his duties back in December.

But that decision has so far looked a masterstroke, with the returning Billy Davies unbeaten in five matches since being re-appointed, winning four of them.

The Tricky Trees have recorded three clean sheets in that time too, and look a much more solid outfit under Davies, and one which now expects to win games.

Just two points adrift of sixth-place Brighton, few would now bet against Davies guiding Forest to a third tilt at a play-off campaign.

And he would be determined to make this one a successful attempt, following his failure to steer the club to promotion leading to his dismissal during his last City Ground tenure.

Meanwhile, a glance at Forest’s remaining fixtures lends weight to the idea that they have solid promotion credentials too.

Of Forest’s remaining home games, all but two are against lower half opposition, against whom the Reds have the fifth-best record in the Championship this term.

The visits of Leicester and Brighton will likely serve as tougher tests, but it should be noted that the former haven’t won a league game at Forest since 1972, whilst it has been nine years since the Seagulls triumphed there.

Forest’s improved mentality is one of their greatest assets heading into the end-of-season run-in meanwhile, and the Tricky Trees could continue their momentum to give punters a run for their money as 8/1 promotion shots.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.