Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle Predictions

• Both teams have collected four points from their opening two Premier League fixtures
• Under 2.5 goals has clicked in all four league fixtures involving these teams this season
• Nottingham Forest have lost just two of their last six competitive home games

Similar early season form between cup opponents

Early Premier League form suggests there should not be a lot between Nottingham Forest and Newcastle when they square up in EFL Cup second round on Wednesday.

Both clubs have started the league season against the same two teams and bizarrely recorded identical results.

Newcastle beat Southampton 1-0 in their opener and Forest beat Saints by the same scoreline on Saturday while both sides drew 1-1 with Bournemouth in their other league fixture.

Results flatter underwhelming Magpies

But the Magpies were not particularly convincing in either of their games and could come unstuck at the City Ground on Wednesday.

Against Southampton, Newcastle were dominated – largely due to an early red card for Fabian Schar – and they lost the shot count 19-3, steering just one effort on target.

And they arguably deserved to lose against Bournemouth, who had a late winner harshly ruled out for handball on Sunday.

Forest have a pretty sizeable squad to cope with cup contests and even if they make several changes, they should have enough to defeat the Magpies.

It could be close, though, and 1-0 to the Tricky Trees is the way to play it.