Forest are finding some fluency now. Sean Morrison slices a cross behind for a corner after some slick approach play.

But Barrie McKay's corner is poor.

Kieran Dowell fancies it. Ben Osborn tees him up for a shot with an inventive bit of play from the free-kick, but it's blocked.

Eric Lichaj steams forward on the right and is felled on the edge of the box by Craig Bryson. Chance for Forest.

Nice skills and vision from Kieran Dowell lifts the home crowd momentarily and leads to a decent passing move that ends with Daryl Murphy having a header easily saved by Cardiff keeper Neil Etheridge

Forest's Armand Traore takes a poor touch and slides in on Callum Paterson. It wasn't a nice challenge that.

We have the first caution of the afternoon and Paterson limps away.

Joe Ralls does well out wide as Cardiff attack but his cross comes to nothing and Forest clear their lines.

Daryl Murphy holds the ball up well and is bundled over for a free-kick and Forest are back on the attack through Barrie McKay, who has has a run at the back four which comes to nothing.

The visitors are closing Forest down in midfield, snapping into challenges and denying the home side time and space.

Kieran Dowell has been in superb form for the Reds in recent weeks, but the on-loan Everton man cannot get on the ball at the moment.

The lunchtime sun has passed and it's now dreary and raining in Nottingham.

It's been a pretty dreary start too. No chances to speak of so far.

Forest have a corner. They play it short but Ben Osborn's cross is easily cleared. At the other end Cardiff get forward and work the ball to Callum Paterson, whose shot is well wide.

Cardiff and Forest are matching up with similar formations. Both have two holding midfielders and three operating ahead of them, and one main striker.

Junior Hoilett is flagged offside as he runs though for Cardiff. There's no pattern so far.

Away we go at the City Ground. Forest get us under way. A good crowd and a good atmosphere.

The teams are out. Just a couple of minutes from kick-off now.

It's 'Kids for a Quid' day. That is expected to swell the crowd to around the 25,000 mark.

Feeling confident?

Will it be five on the spin for Forest at the City Ground? Or will Neil Warnock's Cardiff prevail?

Warnock has won both of his games against Forest as Cardiff boss.

Give us a good reason for a winner via twitter, using the hashtag #bbcefl

Image source, Rex Features

Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock has strong links to Nottingham of course.

He achieved some pretty incredible success with Notts County about a quarter of a century ago, taking them up to the top flight.

The veteran manager has a pretty decent record against the Reds when he's returned to the area to play at the City Ground too. Just four defeats in 13 games.

Image source, Getty Images

Cardiff boss Neil Warnock makes one change from the side which won 1-0 at Barnsley in midweek as Loic Damour comes in for Aron Gunnarsson, who has a knock.

Cardiff XI: Etheridge, Ecuele Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett, Damour, Ralls, Bryson, Hoilett, Paterson, Ward.

Image source, Rex Features

There are two changes for Nottingham Forest following the 1-0 win over Norwich, both enforced.

Midfielder Liam Bridcutt is suspended and defender Tendayi Darikwa has an ankle injury so Tyler Walker comes in and the fit-again Armand Traore returns at left-back, with Eric Lichaj switching to right-back.

Forest XI: Smith, Lichaj, Worrall, Mancienne, Traore, Vaughan, Osborn, Walker, Dowell, McKay, Murphy.

Image source, PA

Saturday's action saw Wolves in particularly impressive form against the Trotters, Ivan Cavaleiro scoring a double in the 5-1 win at Molineux.

Elsewhere Matej Vydra grabbed a hat-trick as Derby beat Middlesbrough, while there were good wins for Leeds, Aston Villa, Fulham, Sunderland and Bristol City.

Anyway, back to today's action. Here's the team news...

Image source, Getty Images

Good afternoon one and all. Ready for some Championship football?

Grand. Forest and Cardiff have every reason to be up for it this afternoon.

Mark Warburton's Forest have won four in a row at the City Ground and could go seventh with victory today, two points behind their biggest rivals Derby County.

And the Bluebirds can go back to within four points of leaders Wolves, who hammered Bolton yesterday...