Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle Predictions

• Nottingham Forest have lost just one Premier League game this term, winning each of their last three
• Newcastle had gone league five games without a win before beating Arsenal last Saturday
• Just one of the Reds’ five Premier League home games and one of the Magpies’ last five league matches have gone over 2.5 goals

Reds ready to continue fine form

Those associated with Nottingham Forest, be that players, fans or their manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, may be experiencing symptoms of vertigo at current, as the Reds entered the weekend sitting third in the Premier League table. 

However, while their position in the table may be a shock to those within the club and fans of rival sides, they are fully deserving of their lofty spot in the English top flight. 

Santo trimmed a bloated squad over the summer and has now been left with a team of players who obviously buy into his methods. With a steely defensive unit containing Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo contrasted by a thrilling attacking quartet of Morgan Gibbs-White, Anthony Elanga, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Chris Wood, Forest have the balance and talent to hurt any side in the division. 

Magpies may struggle in Nottingham

The Tricky Trees ran West Ham ragged in a 3-0 rout last Saturday and they have also enjoyed a sensational 1-0 win at Anfield as well as impressive draws away at Brighton and Chelsea. 

The mood around the City Ground could not be better, which is bad news for Newcastle, who may become the latest side to fall to the high-flying Reds. 

The Magpies earned their own big win last weekend, beating Arsenal 1-0, but a raucous St James’ Park helped spur the players on to that victory and it is difficult to envisage Eddie Howe’s troops being just as motivated for this clash. 

Forest fancied to prevail in tight tussle with Toon

Newcastle had gone five league games without a win prior to their victory over Arsenal and given they were beaten by Chelsea and Brighton – sides Forest have drawn with this term – in that run, it could pay to back the hosts to prevail on Sunday. 

Howe’s men lost the expected goals 0.5-1.1 against Arsenal, suggesting they rode their luck at times. A repeat of that performance could see them struggle to break down Forest too, given the Tricky Trees restricted West Ham to just 0.1 xG on the same day. 

In fact, Forest’s 3-0 win over West Ham was their first home league game this term to feature over 2.5 goals. The Hammers were reduced to ten men in the first-half of that match which may explain why that streak of low-scoring clashes at the City Ground was snapped. 

Newcastle have netted just four goals in their last six Premier League games, suggesting that any home win is likely to be a narrow one, with a 1-0 correct-score bet making some appeal.