Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Nottingham Forest bid to maintain their impressive start to the Premier League season when they take on Newcastle United at the City Ground on Sunday afternoon.

After finishing just one place above the relegation zone in the 2023/24 campaign, Forest have started this term off like a house on fire and find themselves third in the standings heading into this weekend's fixtures.

The Tricky Trees have collected 19 points from 10 matches, losing just once during this period, and a victory at home to Newcastle would keep them in third heading into the international break.

Eddie Howe's visitors won't be an easy pushover, though, with the Magpies beating Chelsea and Arsenal in their last two matches to bring the feel-good factor back to the Tyneside outfit.

Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United betting tips and predictions

Over 2.5 total goals and both teams to score - 6/5

Forest supporters must be in dreamland when they look at the table and see the club occupying third position, a massive improvement from the relegation battle they were involved in last season.

A huge reason for the upturn in form has been the defensive performances of the Tricky Trees, who have conceded just seven goals in the league - only Liverpool (6) have a better record.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side have kept clean sheets in their last two home matches, shutting out Crystal Palace and West Ham, but those two are the among the lowest scorers in the division and visitors Newcastle will present a much sterner attacking threat.

The Magpies are riding high after securing back-to-back home victories over Chelsea in the EFL Cup and Arsenal in the league and a win at the City Ground would see them move to within a point of Forest.

Howe's troops have already won at the City Ground this season, triumphing on penalties in the EFL Cup to extend their winning run in Nottingham to three matches.

Goals have been a theme in those three encounters, with both teams scoring in all of them and over 2.5 goals landing twice, so clearly the pair like to put on a show.

Newcastle have failed to score in just one of their six away fixtures this term, that shutout coming at Everton, but the Magpies missed a penalty at Goodison Park and should have got on the scoresheet.

With two confident teams hitting their stride in the final third, this promises to be an entertaining affair that could see the net bulge at both ends.

Morgan Gibbs-White to commit over 1.5 fouls - 11/8

Free-flowing, attacking games often bring plenty of fouls with it and that could be the case again when these two clash, with Forest vice-captain Morgan Gibbs-White ready to stick his foot in.

The 24-year-old midfielder brings great attacking threat to his side, providing assists and notching goals, but his fiery character has also seen him fall foul of the officials.

Gibbs-White has been shown two yellow cards and a red in the league this season and, while he appeals at 21/10 to go in the book again, the safer play is to back him to commit over 1.5 fouls.

In his seven league outings, the England international has made two or more fouls in four of those contests and he is averaging two fouls per match.

Elliot Anderson to be booked - 5/1

There were seven bookings when two met in the EFL Cup back in August, with Forest accounting for five of those, and the 5/1 available on Elliot Anderson to go in the book on Sunday is hard to ignore.

The 22-year-old left St James' Park in the summer and although his exit was on good terms, he will be hoping to get one over on his former teammates.

Anderson has already seen his ex-employers come away from the City Ground with a victory this season and he will be desperate not to let the same outcome happen again.

The midfielder has gone in the book twice in his last three appearances and it would be no surprise to see him add to that tally in front of a raucous home crowd.

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Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United odds

Nottingham Forest - 7/4
Draw - 23/10
Newcastle United - 8/5

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.