BRISTOL CITY return to action this Saturday with a much-anticipated game against Nottingham Forest at Ashton Gate (3pm).

City and Forest lie in fifth and sixth position respectively in the Championship table and following the international break and with a busy Christmas schedule of games nearly upon us, I suspect both City head coach Lee Johnson and Forest supremo Sabri Lamouchi will be desperate to avoid defeat in this fixture. Equally, a win for either side would be a huge confidence booster and consolidate a top six position.

City are unbeaten at home in six games since an opening day defeat to Leeds United. However, City have only won three of those six games, drawing the other three and given some of the opposition we’ve faced that home record could be better than it is. City will be full of confidence after that big derby victory in Cardiff but Forest had a derby victory of their own last time out as they beat their local rivals Derby County 1-0 at the City ground. I expect another tight encounter against between City and Forest with a score draw likely, or hopefully City nicking it by a goal.

This game is followed by another very tough one as City travel to face West Brom at The Hawthorns next Wednesday (8pm). The Baggies currently top the Championship and are unbeaten in six games themselves, having won their last two. So, as with City, Slaven Bilic’s team will be full of confidence going into this fixture. City suffered a 4-2 defeat at The Hawthorns last season but when the sides last met in April at Ashton Gate, City recorded a memorable 3-2 win after racing into a three-goal lead inside the opening 20 minutes.

A repeat of that start is unlikely, but City are a strong and consistent side away from home and are capable of another memorable night’s work against the Black Country outfit.