Nottingham Forest vs Everton Predictions

• Nottingham Forest are unbeaten in their last eight home games in the Premier League
• Everton have sustained seven defeats in 12 away games in the Premier League this season
• The Toffees have lost three of their first five matches under Sean Dyche
• Five of the seven clean sheets Nottingham Forest have kept in the league this campaign have been at the City Ground

Forest can create breathing space with win

Sean Dyche made an instant impact as new Everton boss at the start of February, steering his side to 1-0 win over Arsenal in his first game in charge, but the Toffees have since lost three of their last four games and could be in trouble away to Nottingham Forest.

It was inevitably going to be a tough season for Steve Cooper’s Premier League new boys Nottingham Forest and results like last Saturday’s 4-0 hammering by West Ham were always likely to crop up.

But the Tricky Trees are making a fight of it in the Premier League this season with a four-point gap between them and the relegation zone heading into this weekend’s fixtures.

A win over Everton would create even more breathing space between them and the bottom three and Cooper’s men look worth a bet.

Home form key for Tricky Trees

Home is very much where the heart has been for Nottingham Forest this season and that is important given they have the worst away record in the division.

Five of the team’s six Premier League wins this season have come at the City Ground, where they have not lost in the league since September.

In their most recent home contest, they were thoroughly outplayed by title-chasing Manchester City, allowing their opponents 73 per cent possession and 23 shots.

But with a buoyant home crowd behind them and a bit of luck, Forest managed to snatch a 1-1 draw with Chris Wood scoring from close range in the 84th minute with the team’s only shot on target in the game.

Everton could draw another blank on the road

Forest do have their fair share of injuries at the moment with defensive pair Scott McKenna and Willy Boly among those sidelined but they have the depth to cope thanks to their scattergun spending last summer.

While they are a force to be reckoned with at home, Everton are not good travellers.

From 12 Premier League away matches this season, the Toffees have picked up only one win, which came on the road at a poor Southampton team back in October.

Everton have lost their last three away fixtures in the Premier League 2-0, 2-0 and 4-0 against West Ham, Liverpool and Arsenal and, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin expected to miss this one, they may also draw a blank at Forest.

With that in mind, we predict a Forest win by a 1-0 scoreline in what is likely to be a cagey contest in the table’s lower echelons.