
Both Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion saw their unbeaten starts to 2025 come to a crashing halt last week, as Forest were battered at Bournemouth and the Seagulls slumped to a surprise home defeat by Everton.
Nuno Espirito Santo admitted that his side’s heavy loss at Bournemouth was a ‘warning’ in their bid to finish in the top four. Victories for Manchester City and Newcastle United last week leave Forest just three points clear of both, while Chelsea and Bournemouth are only a further point behind.
“We have to take a deep look at how we did so we cannot repeat it again,” said Nuno, whose last seven managerial H2Hs with Brighton have brought just one win, with five draws.
Callum Hudson-Odoi missed the trip to the Vitality Stadium and will be absent for Saturday’s early kick-off too as he nurses a groin problem.
It was a stale performance by the Seagulls a week ago, as they failed to create any big chances at home to an Everton side who gladly picked up just their second away triumph of the campaign.
Fabian Hurzeler’s team have been better on the road than at home this term and will rock up at the City Ground off the back of three away successes on the bounce in all competitions.
Injuries are an issue for Brighton. The list of absentees stands at eight players, including Evan Ferguson, who is set to depart the club. Kaoru Mitoma has also been the subject of interest, but the Seagulls reportedly rejected an approach from Al Nassr.
Brighton came out on top in an action-packed match-up at the City Ground in 2023-24, with a Joao Pedro double helping the South Coast outfit take all three points.
Lewis Dunk’s red card made it a difficult last 20 minutes for the Seagulls who had four other players booked, but they held off Forest who up until that point had not lost at home all season.
The encounter at the Amex four months ago was equally fiery, as Morgan Gibbs-White was dismissed in a 2-2 draw. Danny Welbeck and Chris Wood, top scorers at their respective clubs for 2024-25, were both on the scoresheet that afternoon.
Only the Vitality Stadium has seen fewer goals than the City Ground this season, but perhaps the arrival of Brighton will see that trend bucked.
There is usually plenty of entertainment when these sides meet, especially in the East Midlands.
Nottingham Forest have scored in all but one of their home games this season. Chris Wood is at an attractive price to oblige on Saturday lunchtime, in what is the best bet for this game.
Having netted 14 of Forest’s 33 league goals in what has been a remarkable season for them to date, Wood has established himself as the focal point of Nuno’s attack.
The New Zealand international is the man who playmakers Anthony Elanga and Morgan Gibbs-White look for at every opportunity in the final third, and his finishing has been exemplary, significantly outperforming his xG.
Wood’s goals have been well spread out. His 14 goals have come in 13 games, meaning that anytime goalscorer bets on the striker have landed in 56 per cent of his starts.
Brighton have recorded some decent results on the road but they have shipped 21 goals in 12 away matches. They give up chances, and Forest will look to ensure that their best ones fall to their number 11.
Anything odds-against would have been of interest, but some firms have been particularly generous with their price for the top-flight’s joint-fourth top scorer to take his tally to 15.
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