Football: Forest lose Cooper but hope to keep momentum

NOTTINGHAM FOREST hope to extend their First Division lead at home to Wolves today with a win that would virtually end their visitors' play-off hopes - but will have to do so without their influential captain, Colin Cooper.

Forest moved six points clear of second-placed Sunderland with a 3-0 victory at Bradford on Saturday, but Cooper was carried off with a serious ligament injury after 57 minutes. Their manager, Dave Bassett, said: "All I know at this stage is that it is ligament damage, but if it is a cruciate ligament injury he will be out for a year."

Wolves are seven points behind sixth-placed Ipswich after drawing 2-2 at home to Manchester City. That draw moved City, who play Birmingham at Maine Road today, one point clear of the relegation zone.

Sunderland, who drew 2-2 at home to Queen's Park Rangers on Friday, travel to West Bromwich Albion hoping to maintain their automatic promotion place. Third-placed Charlton visit Port Vale, while Middlesbrough, level with Charlton on points after Saturday's 4-0 win over Bury, travel to bottom- of-the-table Reading. Fifth-placed Sheffield United, nine points behind Middlesbrough, travel to Swindon.