Nottingham Forest vs West Ham United 2025/26 Premier League Bet Builder & Predictions
Nottingham Forest takes on West Ham United at The City Ground on Sunday afternoon in a Premier League clash that could see Forest capitalise on their solid start while West Ham look to escape the bottom of the table. Our football betting expert is backing Nottingham Forest to claim victory, with an expectation of over 2.5 goals and both teams scoring in an entertaining contest.
Team News and Context
Nottingham Forest have started the season strongly, earning four points from their first three games and currently sitting 5th in the Premier League. They opened their campaign with a dominant 3-1 home win against Brentford thanks to two goals from Chris Wood and a debut strike from Dan Ndoye. The midfield, led by Morgan Gibbs-White who signed a new three-year contract, remains a key strength as Forest look to navigate their European commitments. The only notable absentee is Nicolás Domínguez who is sidelined with a long-term knee injury.
West Ham United, in stark contrast, are struggling badly with no points from three league matches and some heavy defeats, including a 1-5 thrashing by Chelsea at home and a 0-3 loss to Sunderland. Defensive weaknesses and a lack of attacking cohesion have been costly for the Hammers, who are rock bottom of the table. New signings such as Jean-Clair Todibo and Callum Wilson could feature, but Crysencio Summerville is doubtful with a hamstring injury. Manager Graham Potter faces mounting pressure to turn things around quickly.
Opening Matches Recap
Forest’s opening win showed their attacking threat and midfield control, with Wood and Ndoye being particularly effective, while their draw at Crystal Palace demonstrated resilience in a feisty encounter. Despite some off-field uncertainty around manager Nuno Espirito Santo’s future, the team continue to perform competently on the pitch.
West Ham’s start has been poor, highlighted by defensive lapses and a lack of offensive sharpness, contributing to their three straight defeats. The defeat to Chelsea exposed serious frailties and saw the fans express their frustration, while their performance against Sunderland also lacked composure and threat in attack.
Head to Head and Current Form
The last 10 meetings between Nottingham Forest and West Ham have been evenly split, with each team winning five matches and no draws. These encounters have averaged 3.6 goals per game, with goals scored by both teams 50% of the time. Forest’s home form is modest with 0.71 points per game, whereas West Ham has collected 1.5 points per away match but is presently on a losing streak.
Statistically, Forest boasts a tighter defence, conceding 1.4 goals per game compared to West Ham’s 1.8, but the visitors hold a slight edge in goals scored, averaging 1.5 to Forest’s 1.0. Both teams display attacking intent but have defensive vulnerabilities, suggesting an open and potentially high-scoring encounter.
Nottingham Forest to Win (1.80)
With home advantage and recent positive form, Forest are tipped to come out on top against struggling West Ham.
Over 2.5 Goals (2.00)
Given both sides’ attacking tendencies and defensive issues, expect a game with multiple goals.
Both Teams to Score (Yes)
Both teams have the quality to find the net, even in a contest where defensive frailties may be exposed.
Conclusion: Nottingham Forest vs West Ham United Betting Preview
Sunday’s fixture offers a key opportunity for Nottingham Forest to build upon their encouraging start and for West Ham to arrest a dreadful run of results finally.
Forest’s balanced midfield and clinical striker pairing present a strong challenge, while West Ham’s need for improvement is urgent. The match is likely to be open, with goals at both ends expected in a lively Premier League encounter.
To recap, our football betting tips for Nottingham Forest vs West Ham United are:
Nottingham Forest to Win (1.80): Home form and squad quality favour the hosts.
Over 2.5 Goals (2.00): Expect an open match with a good number of goals.
Both Teams to Score (Yes): Both sides are capable of scoring in this encounter.
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