Nottingham Forest finally lost their first Championship game of the season last weekend, courtesy of a 2-1 defeat to Cardiff City.

Two first half goals were sufficient for the Bluebirds, despite an 89th minute consolation from Britt Assombalonga - his ninth of the campaign.

Forest are currently fifth in the Championship table with 12 games played, although their position is not indicative of their recent form.

The loss at the weekend extended their run without a win in all competitions to six games – with their last victory coming against Fulham in September.

Instead, their league standing is owed to their strong start to the season, which saw Stuart Pearce’s men top the table for a run of six games from August and September.

The club’s recent form has seen only three goals scored in their last five matches; a complete contrast to their opening five fixtures in which they managed 11.

Furthermore, their last five games have seen Forest pick up fewer points than all but five teams in the division.

Despite their poor showing in front of goal in recent games, striker Assombalonga is the league’s top scorer. 

The former Watford Academy graduate joined the club in the summer for a reported £5.5million from Peterborough United.

His nine goal tally already equals last season's top scorer Andy Reid’s total, despite playing 20 games fewer.

Nottingham Forest were busy in the summer transfer window, adding 11 players on permanent deals, plus three more on loan (although Jamaal Lascelles and Karl Darlow were loaned back to the club following permanent moves to Newcastle United.)  

Joining alongside the club’s new star striker was key personnel in the form of Michail Antonio, who joined from Sheffield Wednesday, Michael Mancienne from Hamburg, and Jack Hunt on loan from Crystal Palace. 

Only two of the nine players to make ten or more appearances this season did not join in the summer.

Much like this season so far, draws were the most common result of Nottingham Forest’s 2013/14 campaign.

The club were held to 17 league draws in the previous campaign, one of which came against Watford at Vicarage Road in August of last year.

In the return fixture at the City Ground, Forest managed to beat the Hornets 4-2. The last five matches between the two sides have produced three draws and a win each for either team.

Forest will be without midfielder Reid and defender Jack Hobbs for tonight's game. Both have been ruled out until 2015 with injuries sustained against Derby County earlier this month.

Midfielder Henri Lansbury will be suspended for the match, after picking up his fifth booking against Cardiff City.

Nottingham Forest starting XI v Cardiff City (18/10/14): Darlow; Hunt, Mancienne, Wilson, Lichaj; Tesche, Burke, Lansbury, Antonio; Fryatt, Assombalonga.