PLAY-OFFS: SWANSEA v FOREST

I SAID last week Nottingham Forest needed to take a lead to Swansea to have a hope of reaching the Championship play-off final – and I stand by that.

Forest were held 0-0 at home despite playing against 10 men and Billy Davies' side never really got to grips with the situation.

Swansea look comfortable on home soil and are unbeaten on their last eight at the Liberty Stadium. They beat Forest 3-2 earlier in the season but the scoreline was more comfortable than it looked.

Brendan Rodgers must have been thrilled with the draw at the City Ground after his side's horror start and I expect Swansea to finish the job to set up a possible all-Welsh final against Cardiff and what a prospect that would be.

The Swansea are a best 1-2 to qualify with the likes of William Hill and 1-1 with firms such as Ladbrokes and Paddy Power to win on the night.

Forest are 7-4 with Ladbrokes and Paddy Power to qualify and remember away goals don't count double. To win in Swansea you can have 5-2 at Chandler.

Rodgers' men were favourites at the start of the play-offs to win promotion and still are. You can have 15-8 with the likes of Ladbrokes, William Hill and Paddy Power.

Swansea have matchwinners such as Nathan Dyer, who was superb at the City Ground, Fabio Borini and Scott Sinclair. But the man I'm looking at to score first is Stephen Dobbie.

The Scot, who played for sides such as Dumbarton and Queen of the South in the SFL before moving up a grade, was sacrificed by Rodgers when he needed to add steel following Neil Taylor's early dismissal.

Dobbie is a class finisher who netted three in his previous two matches and is 7-1 at Ladbrokes.

Top scorer Sinclair and Borini are generally available at 5-1 while Dyer is 12-1 with the likes of Ladbrokes, Hills and Paddy Power.

Forest didn't show much in the first leg but Kris Boyd, who netted in that 3-2 defeat in March, is always likely to pose a threat and is 15-2 at bet365 and Paddy Power.

Lewis McGugan went closest for Forest in the first leg and is 12-1 with William Hill.

For backers of both teams to score you can 1-1 with almost everyone.

Recommendations

Swansea to win in 90 mins

(1-1, various)

Swansea to be promoted

(15-8, various)

Dobbie to score

(9-4, Ladbrokes)

🔗 Share on Social Media