Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Leaders Newcastle come into this match as ‘odds on’ favourites with the bookies and certainly a couple of weeks ago this might have looked like an away banker. However, recent results and performances suggest that Forest could certainly make a game of this.

They were convincing 5-2 winners last Friday night at Barnsley and come into this game looking for a 3rd straight Championship win. The Forest board deserve credit for sticking with summer appointment Philippe Montanier and his attacking approach that was struggling to produce results prior to that. His side certainly have looked a threat in the final third, even allowing the sale of Oliver Burke and continued injury problems of Britt Assombalonga.

Only Newcastle have scored more goals than Forest who average 1.78 goals per game this term and an impressive 2.25 at the City Ground. Even against the stronger sides, they have had a go and it’s hard to see Montanier veering from that philosophy here given they’ve done well in the last two games. That should lead to an open contest but Forest are likely to have a tough time keeping things tight at the other end. As well as scoring 1.78 goals per game, they’ve also conceded 1.78 per game and only rock bottom Rotherham have a worse record than that.

Newcastle come into this match after a rare bad week. They’ve been creating chances but were extremely wasteful as they exited the EFL Cup at Hull in midweek. Rafa Benitez will have confidence in his forwards though and it’s hard to see them missing as many opportunities again here and they will get chances with Forest not great at the back. Clearly the visitors have more quality but this game does come just 3 days on from their match at Hull which went to Extra Time and penalties. The Magpies have the strength in depth to rotate their side here but there will still be a number of players who were involved in that game who start here, so tiredness could be a factor and that will give hope to in-form Nottingham Forest.

Both teams have scored in all of Forest’s last 11 home Championship games. Given that and given both sides have been scoring freely in the Championship term, backing both teams to score at 8/11 looks to offer value here.