West Ham
- Nuno’s side are winless in their last five, drawing two and losing three of their games with a 0-1 home defeat to Fulham followed by a 2-2 draw at Brighton at the weekend.
- This week’s game has more to it than a normal league game because Forest are in relegation danger, and West Ham are too, both clubs have changed their managers recently and Nuno Espirito Santo will be facing his former club.
- West Ham have won two, drawn one, and lost seven of their ten home matches in the Premier League 2025/2026.
Forest
- Forest are in the better position in the Premier League 2025/2026 standings with 18 points from 19 games in 17th place while the Hammers have 14 points from as many matches in 18th.
- Forest have won just twice in nine away matches in the Premier League 2025/2026, drawing two and losing five.
Head-to-Head
- Both teams have scored an average of 2.0 goals per game in their last five head-to-head meetings.
- However, the hosts did win the last meeting between these two sides 3-0 away in the Premier League 2025/2026, and the home advantage could swing this one too.
Key Players
- Nuno’s pragmatic approach has seen West Ham adopt a very compact 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 system with the emphasis on keeping things simple, being solid in defence and then playing quick when they win the ball with wide runners such as Jarrod Bowen, who has six goals in 19 Premier League 2025/2026 matches so far and three in his last five.
- Forest are a much more direct and physical side since Sean Dyche took over as manager in October 2025.
- Callum Hudson-Odoi is his biggest threat with three goals in 18 Premier League 2025/2026 appearances, two of which have come in Forest’s last five.
- A lot of this game could be won in the middle of the park during transitions and in the wide areas where both clubs like to use the flanks.
- With neither side prolific in front of goal, there should be plenty of opportunity for Forest to win the second ball and hit the Hammers on the counter while West Ham will target the Forest goal with their pacey wide men.
Betting Insights
Forest are 2.32 favourites for this game with West Ham 2.96 and the draw 3.35 .
Prediction
So the Under 2.5 goals line at 1.9 looks a tempting bet, as do the 2.32 odds on the visitors.
