Nottingham Forest vs Leicester predictions: Hosts can keep top-five hopes alive
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- Nottingham Forest have won all five matches against the Premier League's bottom three
- Leicester have suffered 16 defeats to nil this season
- Recommended bet: Nottingham Forest to win 1-0
Nottingham Forest have slipped out of the Premier League's top five following a run of just one win in five top-flight matches, but the Tricky Trees will aim to reignite their Champions League push when already-relegated Leicester visit the City Ground.
While the forlorn Foxes snapped a 12-match winless run with a 2-0 victory over rock-bottom Southampton last weekend, a meeting with Forest represents a step up in class, even if Nuno Espirito Santo's hosts are beginning to run on empty.
Team news
Forest will be without Callum Hudson-Odoi, who has a hamstring problem, so Nuno Espirito Santo must decide whether to bring in Ramon Sosa or Jota Silva, while he could also switch Elliot Anderson to a wider role and deploy Nicolas Dominguez in central midfield.
Nuno is also sweating on the fitness of star centre-half Murillo, who limped out of Monday's 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace. The Brazilian will be assessed, with compatriot Morato likely to come in if he is not fit.
Leicester have a host of long-term absentees with Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Abdul Fatawu, Mads Hermansen, Stephy Mavididi, Ricardo Pereira and Harry Souttar ruled out with injury.
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The stats
Forest have the joint-best Premier League defensive home record, conceding just 13 goals.
In contrast, Leicester have the worst defensive record on the road, shipping 42 times.
Leicester have won just one of 15 away matches since the start of November.
At least one team has failed to score in seven of Forest's last eight at home.
Both teams have scored in just one of Leicester's last 11 matches.
Forest striker Chris Wood has scored 19 goals this season from just 58 shots.
Prediction
Nottingham Forest's Champions League dreams are fading fast but there could be no better tonic than a clash with Leicester, whose relegation has long since been confirmed.
Forest are 40 points better off than the forlorn Foxes, who will be heading back to the Championship next season either with or without Ruud van Nistelrooy, with reports in recent days suggesting that the Dutch coach's time in the Midlands could well be up once the campaign finishes.
A 2-0 win over Southampton saw Van Nistelrooy's men salvage the slimmest slice of pride, while also putting an end to their long winless run, but the Saints have had an even worse campaign so there is no guarantee they will follow up with an improved performance against a superior Forest team.
The Tricky Trees have slipped off the pace following defeats to Aston Villa, Everton and Brentford in their last five matches, but they've still claimed 31 points at the City Ground this term and should get back on the winning trail.
However, Nuno will be content to see his team claim three points by any means possible and is likely to prioritise defence — a tactic which has stood the Trentsiders in good stead throughout the season as only champions Liverpool can match their defensive record in home fixtures.
While Leicester did manage to find the net against Southampton, they have suffered nine defeats to nil in their last 11 Premier League matches. Their expected-goals figure of 30.5 is the worst in the division and it would come as no surprise if they fail to lay a glove on Nottingham Forest.
With the hosts also in indifferent form, one goal could swing this clash in their favour.
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