Bolton Wanderers and twice European champions Nottingham Forest rarely produce boring encounters and given the sides’ respective form this weekend’s clash could be another cracker.
Only six of the 85 matches between the two have ended in goalless draws and Bolton – who have only lost once in their last 10 at home – are bracing themselves for the menacing Forest, 5-0 FA Cup slayers of Premier League West Ham United.
Forest striker Jamie Mackie says the fifth-placed club is buzzing coming into the weekend’s fixture.
“Confidence is flooding through the team at the moment and we’re all enjoying our football,” Mackie told Forest Player.
“We’re a really close-knit group with a fantastic team spirit and that will only help us in our promotion push.”
Forest are currently in the Championship play-off places and have not lost a league game since November.
Mackie scored his first Forest goal in a 3-0 win against Bolton when the sides met at the City Ground in August but is wary of the tough challenge they will face at the Reebok this time.
“We’ve been on a brilliant run recently and we’re looking to carry that on at Bolton.
“It’s going to be a tough game away from home but we know that if we play to the standards we’re capable of we’ll take all three points which is the aim.”
The Trotters meanwhile will be in confident mood after their impressive cup victory over neighbours Blackpool last Saturday and will take heart from the fact Forest haven’t beaten Bolton away since 1991.
Dougie Freedman’s side though will be desperate for three points as they find themselves only six points above the drop zone.
Bolton have no injury concerns and will be helped though by the fact that Forest will be without Chris Cohen, Danny Collins, Kelvin Wilson, David Vaughan and Darius Henderson.
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