Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle United

Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United are set to lock horns at the City Ground in a lopsided Premier League contest.

Nottingham Forest’s tormenting battle for Premier League survival took another blow last weekend as a 3-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur condemned Steve Cooper’s side to a fifth consecutive league game without winning (D2, L3). Left to pick up the slacks following another uneventful attacking showing, the ‘Tricky Trees’ start this round only two points clear of 18th-placed Bournemouth. Playing on Friday (European time) doesn’t suit Forest, as witnessed by their abysmal run of one win from their last 11 such league fixtures (D6, L4). On a more positive note, they’ve won back-to-back home league meetings with Newcastle, which may inspire their bid to beat the ‘Magpies’ in the Premier League for the first time in history, having gone winless in all nine previous attempts (D3, L6).

In the meantime, visiting Newcastle United returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a 2-1 home triumph over Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, halting a disappointing run of five winless league games (D3, L2). Despite starting this matchday four points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham, the ‘Magpies’ can draw confidence from boasting two games in hand, leaving a long-awaited Champions League qualification up for grabs. However, Eddie Howe’s men must improve their embarrassing away form after going winless on their last four Premier League travels (D3, L1). A lack of firepower saw Newcastle fail to get on the scoresheet three times during that four-game sequence, highlighting a poor-performing frontline as the team’s weak link.