Nottingham Forest vs. West Ham: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

These two sides are entering this game in very contrasting situations. The home side a team i the ascendancy, with hopes of chasing a European place, while the Hammers are amidst somewhat of an identity crisis.

West Ham won at the weekend but their performance was not deserving of a victory, and an inexplicable refereeing decision ultimately handed them three points. Before that game, West Ham had only one win in seven games, and their level of performance does not appear to be heading in the right direction.

Forest, conversely, have only one defeat in the league this season and are coming off the back of successive wins.

On top of that, Forest have won all of the last three head-to-head meetings with West Ham at the City ground, so based on the evidence we fancy the Tricky Trees to claim another three points here. Nottingham Forest 2-1 West Ham.

Nottingham Forest are looking to maintain their excellent start to the Premier League season as they take on West Ham United this weekend.

• Date: 02/11/2024
• Kick-off time: 15:00
• Location: City Ground, Nottingham

Nottingham Forest’s are currently 7th with 16 points from nine games, a tally that is a testament to their impressive start to the season. Since their promotion to the Premier League, Forest have had a pretty long acclimation period, experiencing two very close relegation survivals both last season and the season preceding it. However, under manager Nuno Espírito Santo, the team has seemingly found its feet in this division and now looks well capable of kicking on to the next level.

Nuno, as he is commonly referred to, has brought a new level of resilience and tactical cohesion to Forest, building on the groundwork laid in previous seasons. His experience with Wolves in the Premier League provided him with a solid understanding of how to compete in a challenging league, and his approach has brought an undeniable sense of stability to Forest’s play. Nuno’s impact is evident, not just in the team's performances, but in their consistency, a quality that was sorely lacking in the last two seasons.

The improvements at Forest aren’t solely down to management; a lot of credit also goes to the club’s transfer strategy. Forest’s recruitment team, in collaboration with Nuno, has assembled a well-balanced squad capable of handling the physical and tactical demands of the Premier League. The signing of striker Chris Wood has been instrumental, with the New Zealander experiencing something of a career renaissance. Wood, a familiar figure in the Premier League, has thrived under Nuno's system, scoring seven goals in nine games and showcasing his ability to play a central role in the team’s attack. His strong form has given Forest a reliable focal point, and his physical presence and finishing have added a much-needed cutting edge to their front line.

In addition to Wood, Forest have benefitted greatly from the acquisitions of winger Callum Hudson-Odoi and midfielder Elliot Anderson. Hudson-Odoi, brought in for a modest £5 million, has been a revelation. The former Chelsea winger has become one of the most creative players in the league, with his excellent passing range and consistently high-level decision-making making him an indispensable part of Forest's attack.

Elliot Anderson, who joined from Newcastle in the summer, has also proven to be a valuable asset in midfield. Operating as a classic number 8, Anderson possesses an impressive dribbling ability and a knack for carrying the ball forward, helping Forest transition from defence to attack with ease.

Forest have signed a frankly ridiculous number of players since arriving in the Premier League so there's a degree of throwing a lot of mud at a wall and seeing what sticks in their methods, but it looks to have finally paid off with the team now looking like a settled unit.

In stark contrast to Forest’s positive start, West Ham United find themselves struggling in 13th place with just 11 points from nine games. Manager Julen Lopetegui is finding life tough in East London, as despite receiving a notable degree of financial backing in the summer, the Spaniard is struggling to mould a very talented group of attackers into a team that maximises its potential.

West Ham’s performances have largely been disappointing, lacking the cohesion, intensity and quality that fans were expecting, and Lopetegui has faced mounting pressure as a result, with many questioning whether Lopetegui is actually an upgrade on Moyes, a man many fans were (perhaps unfairly) desperate to move on from. Despite the substantial investment, the Hammers have failed to display the improvement anticipated, and the team’s overall performance has remained stagnant.

That said, a recent positive result against Manchester United, albeit achieved without a particularly impressive performance, has temporarily alleviated some of the pressure on Lopetegui. While this may have bought him some time, the need for West Ham to show a more cohesive and competitive side is still pressing, and the team's performance here will no doubt be judged very harshly.

This game will not be televised live in the UK, but full radio coverage will be provided by BBC Radio Nottingham.

Nottingham Forest Team News:

Forest are coming into this one without the services of Morgan Gibbs-White, Ibrahim Sangaré and Danilo, all of whom remain out with injuries.

After a good win last weekend, there is little reason for Nuno to make any changes to the starting XI.

Predicted lineup: Sels; Aino, Milenković, Murillo, Moreno; Yates, Domínguez; Elanga, Anderson, Hudson-Odoi; Wood.

West Ham Team News:

Mohammed Kudus remains unavailable through suspension while Niklas Fullkrüg will once again miss out with a calf injury.

Crysencio Summerville will hope to come into the starting XI after scoring off the bench at the weekend.

Predicted lineup: Fabiański; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman; Emerson; Álvarez, Rodríguez; Bowen Paquetá, Summerville; Antonio.

Forest's form is impressive heading into this one, with the Reds having lost only one of their last five games. Last weekend, Nuno's men surged to an impressive 3-1 win away at Leicester City. Forest took the lead through a fine goal by Ryan Yates from distance and despite Jamie Vardy's equaliser not long after, Forest ran out comfortable winners thanks to a second half brace from Chris Wood.

Before that, another goal from Wood was enough to give Forest the win over Crystal Palace in a 1-0 win, a result that followed a 1-1 draw at Chelsea, a 0-1 loss to Fulham and a 2-2 draw away at Brighton.

West Ham are coming into this game off the back of a 2-1 win over Manchester United. Despite the result, the Hammers did not perform well and should have been several goals down at half-time, with the Red Devils spurning a number of good chances. However, Lopetegui's side stayed in the game, and in the 74th minute, substitute Crysencio Summerville gave them the lead with a finish at the far post. Casemiro equalised for the visitors with less than ten minutes remaining, but in stoppage time West Ham were awarded a very dubious VAR penalty that Jarrod Bowen duly converted to give them the three points.

That result came after a 4-1 hammering away at Tottenham Hotspur, a result that was preceded by a 4-1 win over Ipswich Town, a 1-1 draw with Brentford and a 5-1 loss at the hands of Liverpool in the EFL Cup.

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