David Prutton issues Middlesbrough v Nottingham Forest score prediction, backs Norwich and Bristol to draw

Neil Warnock’s men have started the season brightly, and are currently eighth in the table, just one point shy of a play-off place.

An impressive patch of form has meant that the club haven’t lost a league game since their opening weekend defeat to Watford, and a midweek victory over Coventry City made it three wins in their last five outings.

By contrast, Forest have struggled to recapture the form that took them so close to a play-off place just a few months ago.

One win in their opening eight matches has made for a slow start at the City Ground this term, and three consecutive 1-1 draws has done little to brighten the mood for a side who will have had realistic designs on bettering last season’s doomed promotion push.

As far as Sky pundit Prutton is concerned, Saturday’s meeting will represent a moment of stasis for both clubs, with Boro stretching their unbeaten run to eight games, and Forest registering a fourth straight 1-1 draw.

Middlesbrough have often struggled against the East Midlands club, and have recorded just one win in their last seven clashes against them. Their most recent victory came in April 2018.

Last season, both sides had to settle for a sharing of the spoils after playing out a 2-2 draw at the Riverside in March, and a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture back in December.

In more promising news for Boro, however, Prutton has backed Bristol City, Norwich City and Luton to drop points this weekend too.