Forest's commitment the key for Platt

David Platt, the Nottingham Forest manager, says he goes into today's home game against Fulham, the unbeaten First Division leaders, full of confidence.

David Platt, the Nottingham Forest manager, says he goes into today's home game against Fulham, the unbeaten First Division leaders, full of confidence.

Forest snatched a win 1-0 against Sheffield Wednesday in midweek and the former England midfielder admitted: "It will be a tough game because Fulham have shown they are a good side.

"But if we show the same kind of commitment we showed on Wednesday I think we have got a chance. I was pleased with the result but in a way I was disappointed. Playing like that we should be a lot higher up the league than we are."

Fulham are taking 500 fans to the City Ground in a convoy of coaches as they aim to beat the fuel crisis, with chairman Mohamed Al Fayed subsidising the cost of travel. A seventh victory will see the divisional leaders set a club record for the most consecutive wins from the start of a season.

Stockport County's assistant manager Dave Moss is expecting a ferocious Deepdale atmosphere when his side take on Preston. "It will be a very, very tough game. They will be well organised," he said. "They have started the season well and it is a bit of a local derby. There will be a decent crowd and it is a nice stadium so it is set up for a good game."

The American international Brian McBride could make his Preston debut. The Columbus Crew striker has joined them on a six-month loan from Major League Soccer.

Watford will be hoping to continue their excellent start to the season at home to struggling Crewe. Graham Taylor has no fresh injury concerns after his side's 4-3 victory at Blackburn in midweek.

Dario Gradi may give the loan signing Chris Lumsdon his first start after coming off the bench in the 1-0 defeat against West Bromwich. "He took his chance to show us what he could do but I've yet to decide whether he'll start," Gradi said.

Wolves include the Saudi Arabia international striker Sami Al Jaber in their squad for their trip to Wimbledon after finally completing his loan move. They would go level on points with the Dons if they win at Selhurst Park.

Burton is likely to name an unchanged side. After a slow start to the season, the Dons have recorded two impressive away wins in succession to push them into the top half of the table.

Paul Kitson goes straight into the Crystal Palace squad for the visit to Norwich after signing on a month's loan from West Ham.

The Queen's Park Rangers manager Gerry Francis has hinted he may have to go into the transfer market to ease an injury crisis. Absentees include Karl Ready, Christopher Plummer, Danny Maddix, Gavin Peacock and Paul Furlong. Francis said: "We can't go on like this. We have something like 11 or 12 players out at the moment."

Today's opponents Barnsley have lost three league games on the trot, all away from home.