Nottingham vs Newcastle Prediction & Tips
Nottingham Forest battled away over the weekend to earn a much-needed Premier League point against Bournemouth (1-1), although that was a result that extended their winless run in the league to three appearances (E1, P2). Those results mean that Nuno Espírito Santo’s side sit just two points above the relegation zone before this matchday, and with a worse goal difference (-13) than Luton and Everton, could drop into the red zone of the table with another defeat in this fixture.
Many might think a return to the City Ground could offer Forest some respite, but having lost five of their last six home league games (G1), that might not be the case. Inspiration could come courtesy of a 3-1 win over Newcastle United on Boxing Day in the previous meeting between the sides, as they look to win both meetings in the same league campaign against their arch-rivals for the first time since the 1977/78 season.
Newcastle were the protagonists of arguably the best game of the Premier League season so far, drawing 4-4 at St James Park against Luton in a crazy encounter. Despite leading twice early on, the Magpies again collapsed defensively to drop valuable points in their fight to qualify for European competitions this campaign, leaving them 11 points off the top five before this matchday.
In their last five league games, Newcastle conceded 15 goals to take their tally to 37 for the season, which is four more than they had in the entire 2022/23 campaign. Their defensive deficiencies have been most apparent away, with just one win and no clean sheets in their last eight games on opposition soil (E2, P5), while they have not kept a clean sheet at this stadium since 1996.
Players to watch: Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi recently returned from injury to increase his goal tally this Premier League season to five goals, although four of the five games in which he scored ended in defeat (G1). Another back from injury is Newcastle’s Harvey Barnes, who scored a goal last weekend and scored against Forest while playing for Leicester last season.
Key stat: Newcastle have allowed the most shots on target (46) among all teams in the last five Premier League fixtures.
Nottingham – Newcastle FREE TIPS
OVER 2.5 GOALS @ 2.25
