- Newcastle enter this round of fixtures sitting seventh and three points off the top four
- Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, are third and six points better off than their hosts
- Recommended bet: Chris Wood anytime goalscorer

Third-placed Nottingham Forest suffered a shock defeat to Fulham last time and will be looking to bounce back when they head to St James’ Park to take on Newcastle on Sunday. 

The Magpies will be looking for a reaction themselves, however, having been routed 4-0 at Manchester City last Saturday and these two top-four hopefuls could put on a show on Tyneside. 

Should things play out in that manner, it could come down to each team’s star men to come to the fore, with Forest’s talismanic striker the standout goalscorer pick as a result. 

Team news

Jamaal Lascelles and Joelinton remain out for Newcastle, with the pair not expected to return until the Magpies’ Carabao Cup final against Liverpool next month at the earliest. 

Sven Botman missed last week’s defeat at City and will be assessed ahead of Sunday’s clash. 

Back-up striker Taiwo Awoniyi and second-choice goalkeeper Carlos Miguel are Forest’s only absentees, meaning Nuno Espirito Santo has a practically full-strength squad to choose from. 

The stats

Newcastle have lost three of their last four Premier League matches, conceding 10 goals in those defeats.

Chris Wood scored a hat-trick as Nottingham Forest won this fixture 3-1 last term.

Forest’s talismanic striker has netted 18 goals in 25 Premier League matches this season.

After losing just one of their previous nine Premier League games, Nottingham Forest have now lost two of their last three.

Newcastle have managed just one clean sheet in their last six Premier League matches.

Prediction

Newcastle will be feeling confident ahead of this clash after landing a 3-1 victory in November’s reverse fixture but they were so woeful against an inconsistent Manchester City that it is hard to have faith in them at an odds-on price. 

Forest are equally hard to trust, given they were beaten 2-1 by Fulham just last week, and while the draw is a tempting bet with both sides in decent form overall, siding with a goalscorer could prove a better route to profit. 

Unsurprisingly, Alexander Isak is the market leader in the anytime scorer betting, but it could pay to back the visitors’ big striker instead. 

Chris Wood has enjoyed an excellent season, netting 18 goals in 25 Premier League games, and he could get plenty of chances against a Newcastle defence which has shipped 11 goals in four league games and may be without Sven Botman. 

The New Zealand forward netted a hat-trick in this fixture last term and, after netting eight goals in his last seven Premier League matches, Wood looks a big price to haunt his former side again. 

Back Chris Wood anytime goalscorer at 2/1 with LiveScore Bet.

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