Leeds can see off Forest says Eddie Gray

Forest approach this weekend’s fixture having won six of their last eight games, a run which has just about kept Dougie Freedman’s side in contention for a play-off spot.

The visitors sit ninth in the table, nine points off the play-offs and six points above 13th-placed Leeds who themselves have won seven of their last ten.

The only blip in Forest’s recent run was a 2-1 loss at Charlton Athletic at the beginning of the month but Freedman’s men roared back to defeat automatic promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough 2-1 last weekend.

It was a result that caused the Championship to sit up and take notice – but Gray knows the Whites are also making impressive progress themselves.

Leeds also beat Middlesbrough 1-0 back in August – and completed the double over the Riversiders with a 1-0 away win last month – and Gray is also taking heart from this season’s defeat of high-flying Bournemouth, Derby County and Ipswich Town at Elland Road.

Forest and Leeds drew the reverse fixture 1-1 in December and Gray said: “We have got a tough game this weekend against a Nottingham Forest team that probably still think they have got a sneaky chance of getting in the play-offs.

“They are six points better off than we are and so they will probably think if they can win seven out of ten that they’ll have a chance.

“It’s all to play for but it’s a home game for us and there’s no reason why we cannot beat Forest.

“The two sides recently have been in good form so it should be an entertaining contest.

“You look at them on Saturday and they had a good win against Middlesbrough but that’s a game we have won as well – we have beaten Middlesbrough twice as well.

“I think our players can go into the game with a great deal of confidence.”