Nottingham Forest v West Ham preview: Team news, head-to-head, where to watch, prediction
West Ham United will be hoping to build on the 2-1 win over Manchester United when they face Nottingham Forest at The City Ground on Saturday (2 November).
The Hammers have moved above Man United following their last victory, rising to 13th in the Premier League, within five points of their rivals.
Forest fans, on the other hand, are beginning to dream after winning 16 points from their first nine league games of the campaign, losing just one match so far and moving up to seventh in the table.
Preview
Following a torrid start to the 2024/25 campaign, not just in the Premier League but in all competitions, Julen Lopetegui has been under immense pressure to turn things around already.
The Hammers’ ties with Forest often result in a goal-fest, with no goalless draws in their last eight meetings all competitions, so The City Ground may need to prepare for a thriller.
A win for Lopetegui’s team would likely be enough to take them into the top half of the Premier League table for the first time this season, though Forest will not be an easy opponent away from home.
Form guide (Premier League)
Nott’m Forest: WDLDWW
West Ham: DLDWLW
Head to Head (All competitions, last four meetings)
Nott’m Forest 2-0 West Ham (17 February, 2024)
West Ham 3-2 Nott’m Forest (12 November, 2023)
West Ham 4-0 Nott’m Forest (25 February, 2023
Nott’m Forest 1-0 West Ham (14 August, 2022)
Team News
The Hammers will be without Mohammed Kudus once again as he will serve the second of his three-match ban after receiving a red card against Tottenham on 19 October.
Niclas Fullkrug will also be unavailable for the trip to The City Ground as he continues his recovery at the London Stadium.
Forest, on the other hand, are facing late calls with both Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White, with Jota Silva and Elliot Anderson also being monitored ahead of the clash [Ben Dinnery, injury expert].
Predicted lineups
Nott’m Forest: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Moreno; Yates, Dominguez; Elanga, Anderson, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
West Ham: Fabianski; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez, Rodriguez; Bowen, Soucek, Summerville; Antonio
Where to watch?
Nottingham Forest v West Ham kicks off at 3pm (GMT) on Saturday, 2 November and will not be available to watch live in the UK. Highlights will be available on BBC’s Match of the Day later in the evening.
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-1 West Ham
Proven by the recent head-to-head record, the home side often wins all three points in this clash, and the same could happen again much to the disappointment of Hammers fans.
Forest have lost just one of their last five home matches, and with the Irons 10th in the league for away form, Nuno Espirito Santo could be the happier manager by the end of the game.
Some fans may feel that Lopetegui’s side were lucky to gain all three points over Man United, considering the controversial penalty for Jarrod Bowen’s winner, but this is a chance to prove it was not just a fluke.
In other West Ham news, the club have approached the staff of a new striker whose exit is seen as “inevitable”.
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