It’s top versus bottom in the Championship on Wednesday evening as Nottingham Forest welcome Fulham to the City Ground.

The host’s maintained their unbeaten start to the season under Stuart Pearce with a 1-1 draw against fierce rivals Derby County on Sunday afternoon, though they are likely to begin Wednesday off the top with as many as four teams able to leapfrog them on Tuesday.

However, three points against Fulham will assure them of top spot going into the weekends, when the face Millwall before travelling to White Hart Lane to face Tottenham Hotspur in the third round of the League Cup.

Forest will be without club captain, who looked to have picked up a third serious knee injury in as many years on Sunday, while Andy Reid was substituted off with a groin injury in the same game.

Britt Assombalonga, who is currently the joint top scorer in the division with five goals, is favourite to open the scoring at 5.25 (17/4) with Stan James, with Matty Fryatt a 6.5 (11/2) chance with Bet 365.

The home win is priced at 1.75 (3/4) with William Hill, with the visitors as highly priced as the 5.25 (17/4) on offer from Bet Victor, who price the draw at 4.0 (3/1).

Felix Magath’s side lost for a fifth game from six on Saturday, falling to a 3-0 defeat to Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

The result saw them slip below Blackpool after the Seasiders drew 0-0 with Wolverhampton Wanderers, while at -10 their goal difference is by far the worst in the division.

Matt Smith will miss the game as he begins a three-match suspension, while fellow forward Adam Taggart remains out with a back problem.

Ross McCormack, who’s only goal for the club so far came in the League Cup victory over Brentford, is priced at 9.0 (8/1) with Sky Bet to get the first goal of the game ahead of Hugo Rodellega, who is an 11.0 (10/1) chance with Bet 365.

Prior to their draw in the East Midlands derby at the weekend, Forest had won their previous three games to nil, and you can back that outcome here at 3.1 (21/10) with Sky Bet.