View From The Town End: Nottingham Forest

How would you sum up Forest's season so far?

Great start, stutter, INJURIES!  I'm pretty content to be sitting in the play-offs at the moment, although many fans seem to think with the level of investment we perhaps ought to not be quite so far from the automatic spaces already.

You seem to be in the hunt for promotion every year but can't get over the line, is this the season you finally make a return to the Premier League?

If I'm honest, I doubt it - but it really depends on how January pans out because even without the injury issues we've encountered recently we were probably one or two key players short of genuinely challenging.

Forest have two former Royals among their forward options in Simon Cox and Darius Henderson, how have you viewed their performances this season?

Hendo has been limited through some injuries and other things that the local media don't seem keen to talk about - but he's certainly contributed and causes havoc, he seems more effective from the bench.  I really like Cox (easy!), he's an absolute grafter but not prolific - although he has netted in our last two games.  I really think he'd benefit from a poacher alongside him, but I think if he can get a reasonable run of goalscoring in then he'd be doing brilliantly rather than just well as he is at the moment.

Any fond memories of Forest v Reading?

I can't think of any real classics, my last visit to the Madejski Stadium was for a Forest win which we weren't really expecting so that was pleasant!

Any not so fond ones?

No, not really - obviously losing is never fun, but you kinda get used to it!

Who should Reading be wary of on Friday?

Tough to say.  Henri Lansbury is probably the player that makes us tick, particularly now Cohen is out with an injury for the season - he has a great all round game, breaking up play, picking out key passes as well as a reasonable shot on him (which can be ludicrously wayward too!).  Also Jamie Mackie and Simon Cox will relentlessly hassle and harry defenders.  I'd hate to play against players like them.

Anyone Forest aren't looking forward to facing?

You guys have loads of dangerous players - but particularly not looking forward to the potential for heightened performances from ex-Reds like Chris Gunter, Garath McCleary (in particular!) and Billy Sharp.  I've been really surprised at Reading's indifferent form this season and am fully anticipating some kind of kick start of the season at our expense!

Score prediction?

Heart says a sneaky 1-0 to us, head says a frustrating 1-0 win to you!

Any tips for fans making the trip up?

Stupid Friday night kick off time.  Ridiculous decision!  For parking then you can pay £3/4 to park near Notts County's ground - that's where away fans are encouraged to drink pre-match... and apologies for the ridiculous decision to move the game to a stupid time for the benefit of the three or four people who go to watch Notts County!