Lays of the Weekend: It won't get easier for Nottingham Forest

Stuart Pearce is fighting for his future at Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest, Leyton Orient and Southend won't win this weekend, reckons Michael Lintorn...

Lay Nottingham Forest to beat Sheffield Wednesday @ 2.245/4

This isn't easy for someone who backed Nottingham Forest to win the Championship in pre-season to admit, but Stuart Pearce's men are in grotesque form at the moment, so much so that the idea of the manager being replaced is being discussed with growing frequency and gusto.

It all looked so good when Forest got through their first 11 league fixtures without a defeat. The fact that they are now nine points shy of even the play-offs speaks volumes for how badly they have screwed up, prevailing just twice in 19 games in all competitions since September 20.

By contrast, Sheffield Wednesday have won four of their last six Championship encounters - only top two Bournemouth and Ipswich have delivered more often in that period - led at Man City for 52 minutes in the FA Cup and have lost a mere two of their 12 away league outings.

Lay Leyton Orient to beat Fleetwood @ 2.111/10

There are flickers of progress at Leyton Orient under the fourth man to assume control of first-team affairs this season, Fabio Liverani, but nothing to truly inspire punters. They have still lost three times in five matches and are two points above League One's drop zone and out of every cup.

Their only two home league successes from 11 attempts arrived against bottom-four clubs, and Fleetwood certainly aren't in that category. Graham Alexander's side are 12th in their first ever campaign at this level, suffering just one reverse in five and holding leaders Swindon last week.

Lay Southend to beat Plymouth @ 2.021/1

Whereas some teams thrive in six-pointer scenarios, the thing that threatens to deny Southend automatic promotion this term is their inability to perform to their full potential against positional rivals. The sixth-placed Shrimpers have won just two in 11 against fellow top-half sides, losing six.

Though Plymouth are one place and two points behind those Essex boys, they could never be accused of lacking big-game savvy. They have conquered three of the few clubs above them, including Southend 2-0 at Home Park. Southend have fired successive blanks as hosts too.