Team news

Huseklepp set for Blues bow Loan signing Erik Huseklepp goes straight into the reckoning for his Birmingham debut at home to Nottingham Forest.

The striker arrived from Portsmouth on Thursday on a loan deal until the end of the season and will push for immediate inclusion as Blues aim to make it 16 games unbeaten and maintain the pressure on the npower Championship's top two.

Fellow forward Marlon King shrugged off his troublesome groin complaint to start Tuesday's 3-1 victory at Barnsley and should again be involved.

Jonathan Spector was forced off late on at Oakwell nursing a hamstring problem but should be okay to continue at right-back.

That is good news for manager Chris Hughton with Stephen Carr (knee) still on the sidelines, while striker Nikola Zigic (knee) and midfielder Guirane N'Daw (hamstring) are also likely to miss out once again.

Greg Cunningham could return to the Forest squad.

Cunningham resumed training this week after a four-match lay-off with a hamstring problem.

However, the on-loan Manchester City defender is unlikely to be rushed straight back into the starting line-up. A place on the bench might be a possibility, though.

Cunningham's prospective return would be the only change to manager Steve Cotterill's squad.

Cotterill reported no fresh problems following the 2-0 home victory over Coventry last weekend that lifted Forest out of the Championship relegation zone.

Birmingham vs Nottm Forest

Last modified 18:07 25/02/12

Forest stun Blues Birmingham's 15-match unbeaten run came to an end at St Andrew's as Dexter Blackstock's double earned Nottingham Forest a commendable victory in the npower Championship.

Chris Hughton's side's recent form had pushed them up to the fringes of the top two and the loan signings of Erik Huseklepp and Andros Townsend had further bolstered their promotion hopes.

However, Blackstock's opener shortly before the half-hour mark left them with work to do and after Chris Burke (55) had levelled, the striker struck again in the 63rd minute to secure the win for Forest.

Marlon King and Nikola Zigic made a rare start together up front after various injury niggles of late.

King started brightly without forging a chance of note, while Burke and Townsend sent in speculative crosses which were comfortably dealt with by the visitors.

Chris Gunter made progress at the other end while Guy Moussi's shot was blocked and Andy Reid probed from set-pieces.

Birmingham's lacklustre performance was penalised in the 29th minute as Garath McCleary crossed from the right side of the box for Blackstock to react sharply by poking home with his left foot from close range.

Townsend sent in another cross which came to nothing and Reid blazed over for Forest.

Adlene Guedioura fired wide from distance as Forest continued to impress, while Gunter sent in further poor centres from the flanks.

Blues left-back David Murphy's hopeful free-kick from some distance was off target as the half-time whistle approached.

City right-back Jonathan Spector asked questions with crosses from the right before McCleary shot wide of the goal. Reid's free-kick was saved easily by Boaz Myhill before, at the other end, the lively Townsend saw a shot blocked from outside the box.

That spell paid off as Burke then equalised in the 55th minute as King did well on the right, sending the ball inside for the winger to turn home with his left foot.

Less than 10 minutes later Forest were back in front, however. It was the same combination, too, as McCleary found space on the right to send in a teasing ball which Blackstock, left-footed, fired into the top-right of goal from 12 yards.

Huseklepp was sent on for Zigic while Murphy blazed over.

King forced a good parried save from Camp before Nathan Redmond's effort from 25 yards went wide.

Moussi sent one wide at the other end but Birmingham laid siege. Keith Fahey's shot hit the bar with Camp looking beaten and centre-half Curtis Davies sent an effort off target as Hughton's Blues were frustrated.