The two East-Midland rivals are the most backed sides in the last 48 hours for promotion.
The announcement that Aitor Karanka has accepted the Nottingham Forest job has seen a flurry of bets on the East Midlands side to turn their fortunes around and grab an unlikely promotion this season.
Having beaten Arsenal in the FA Cup third round, the former Real Madrid assistant and Middlesbrough manager was convinced that the City Ground should be his next destination and his appointment appears to have restored faith that the Reds season isn’t over just yet.
41% of bets on the Championship promotion market in the last 48 hours have been on Forest, with bookies divided on their chances. Bet Victor have them priced up at an enormous 300/1 whilst William Hill are just 50/1 on a City Ground promotion push. With an 11 point gap and 20 matches remaining, Karanka has the whole of January to bring in new personnel in an attempt to return Forest back to the Premier League for the first time since 1993.
Elsewhere in the betting, Forest’s arch rivals Derby County have received over 12% of bets in the same period. After a fine run of seven games unbeaten, Gary Rowett’s side have climbed into second position and are best priced at 11/8 to return to the Premier League after a 10 year absence with runaway leaders Wolves looking a certainty at best price 1/50.
