FA Cup: Nottingham Forest v Preston match preview

A look ahead to this week’s FA Cup fourth round match at City Ground

Andy Reid celebrates during Nottingham Forest's 5-0 FA Cup win over West Ham (GETTY IMAGES)

Whilst Nottingham Forest remain in a tussle for a place in the Premiership, this Friday they will concentrate their efforts on the FA Cup when they take on Preston at home.

Forest currently lie fifth in the Championship and have been in good form recently, with their last loss coming back in November. Preston are also in a fight for promotion in League One. The Lancashire club sit fourth in their table and are also enjoying decent form going into Friday’s game, having won three of their last five league matches. Preston striker, Joe Garner, will be looking to repeat his heroics at Nottingham Forest after scoring a hat trick against Ipswich to secure the trip to the City Ground. The two clubs combine for 131 years without winning the FA Cup and Friday’s fixture will be the first time they have met in the competition since 2011.

KICK-OFF: Friday, 8.00pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS:

Nottingham Forest 2 (Konchensky, Cohen) Preston 2 (Nicholson, Jones), Championship, February 2011

Preston 1 (Carter) Nottingham Forest 2 (Anderson, Chambers), FA Cup, January 2011

Preston 1 (Parkin) Nottingham Forest 2 (McGugan (2)), Championship, September 2010

STATS:

Preston’s Lee Holmes has made more assists than any other player in the FA Cup this term (four)

Nottingham Forest have kept a clean sheet in six of their last nine FA Cup games at the City Ground.

Preston striker Joe Garner is the top scorer at a club still active in this season’s FA Cup, with five goals in the competition so far.

Nottingham Forest have lost five of their last six FA Cup fourth round ties, with their only victory coming in 2004/05 against Peterborough United.

ODDS:

Nottingham to win: 1.7

Preston to win: 4.75

Draw: 3.9

TV: Highlights on ITV 1 at 10:45pm.