Premier League | Gameweek 10

Nov 2, 2024 at 3pm UK

The City Ground

Nott'm Forest vs West Ham

Match preview

This time last year, Nottingham Forest were languishing in 15th place in the Premier League with 10 points, but fast forward 12 months and they are five points and eight places better off after a bright start to the 2024-25 campaign (W4 D4 L1).

Since the arrival of Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo in December 2023, only Erling Haaland (18) has scored more Premier League goals than striker Chris Wood (17), who netted a brace against former club Leicester City in Steve Cooper's side's 3-1 away win a week ago Friday.

Forest have picked up 11 of their 15 Premier League points this term on the road - only Liverpool have picked up more away from home - and currently sit seventh in the table, just two points behind Arsenal in third.

As well as impressing up front, Forest have also looked solid at the back under Nuno this term, conceding the second-fewest goals in the division (seven); they have not conceded fewer in the top flight since the 1978-79 season.

The Tricky Trees are now bidding to win three successive Premier League games for the first time since May 1999, and they will fancy their chances of doing so on Saturday, having won each of their last two home games against West Ham since returning to the top flight in 2022.

Consistency has been one of the main problems for Julen Lopetegui's West Ham side this season, as they have won three, drawn two and lost four of their nine Premier League games.

However, apart from a heavy 4-1 defeat at the hands of London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, the Hammers have won twice at home to Ipswich Town (4-1) and Manchester United (2-1), beating the latter last weekend thanks to a controversial 92nd-minute penalty from Jarrod Bowen.

West Ham, who are now looking to win back-to-back Premier League games for the first time since March, have climbed to 13th in the table, seven points clear of the relegation zone and just three points outside the top eight.

The Hammers go into Saturday's game looking to improve their away record in the Premier League, having won just three of their 13 away games in 2024, conceding two or more goals on eight occasions.

West Ham have won two of their last three meetings with Nottingham Forest, both at the London Stadium, while their last victory at the City Ground came in August 2011 when they ran out 4-1 winners under former manager Sam Allardyce.

Recent Performance

Nottingham Forest Premier League form:WDLDWW

West Ham United Premier League form:DLDWLW

West Ham United form (all competitions):LLDWLW

Team News

Nottingham Forest are still without the injured duo of Danilo (ankle) and Ibrahim Sangare (hamstring), while Hammers loanee James Ward-Prowse is ineligible to face his parent club.

Nuno has revealed that Wood (foot), Morgan Gibbs-White (ankle), Elliot Anderson and Jota Silva (both knocks) are all doubts and will be assessed before kick-off.

Taiwo Awoniyi could replace Wood up front if he is not deemed fit to start, while the rest of Nuno's starting line-up could remain intact pending a final fitness check.

For West Ham, Niclas Fullkrug is still recovering from a long-term Achilles injury that has kept him out since early September, while Mohammed Kudus is serving the second of a three-match ban.

Lukasz Fabianski started between the sticks against Man United ahead of first-choice Alphonse Areola, and the 39-year-old could retain his starting berth this weekend, while Jean-Clair Todibo will battle it out with Konstantinos Mavropanos for a start at centre-back alongside Max Kilman.

Tomas Soucek will be hoping for a recall in midfield at the expense of either Edson Alvarez, Guido Rodriguez or Carlos Soler, while Crysencio Summerville will be hoping to force his way back into the starting line-up alongside fellow attackers Bowen and Michail Antonio after scoring his first Hammers goal last weekend.

Possible starting lineups

Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:

Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Moreno; Yates, Dominguez; Elanga, Anderson, Hudson-Odoi; Wood

West Ham United possible starting lineup:

Fabianski; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez, Soucek; Bowen, Paqueta, Summerville; Antonio