West Ham vs Nottingham Forest predictions: Forest's Champions League hopes may be dealt a hammer blow
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- West Ham moved up to 15th following last week’s 2-0 win at Manchester United
- Nottingham Forest’s poor run means they are now seventh and one point off the top six
- Recommended bet: Draw
A damaging run of form has seen Nottingham Forest’s Champions League hopes fade drastically over recent weeks and there is a good chance they will now fail to even make the Europa League.
That represents a dramatic twist of fate as they were in the mix for second place not too long ago and they will be keen to get back on track at West Ham, who have endured a miserable campaign.
However, the Hammers secured a rare win at Old Trafford last week and they may have enough to trouble the Tricky Trees at the London Stadium on Sunday.
Team news
West Ham have no fresh injury concerns, with long-term absentees Crysencio Summerville and Michail Antonio out until next season.
Lucas Paqueta was dropped last week and may struggle to regain his place following a strong performance from the Hammers in their win at Old Trafford.
A horrific collision with the post against Leicester meant Taiwo Awoniyi underwent urgent abdominal surgery in the week and he misses out for Forest, alongside Eric da Silva Moreira.
Callum Hudson-Odoi and Murillo missed last week’s draw and both will be assessed ahead of this clash.
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The stats
West Ham’s last three home matches have finished level.
Nottingham Forest have managed just one win in seven games, failing to taste victory in any of their last four.
Both teams have scored in five of the Hammers’ last six matches, while the same bet has landed in seven of Forest’s last eight on the road.
Between them, Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek have scored 10 of West Ham’s last 14 goals, including all of the last four.
Forest have won the last two head-to-heads without conceding but they have left empty handed from their two previous Premier League visits to the London Stadium.
Prediction
So much went wrong for Nottingham Forest last week. Not only were they held to a 2-2 draw by their already-relegated rivals Leicester, but there was a post-match altercation between owner Evangelos Marinakis and manager Nuno Espirito Santo as their hopes of finishing in the top five took a major blow.
Realistically, Forest now need to win their final two matches to have any hope of leapfrogging two of Arsenal, Newcastle, Manchester City, Chelsea or Aston Villa but there is a strong chance that they will fall at the first hurdle.
Had this game been played a few months ago, Forest would have been licking their lips ahead of a trip to lowly West Ham. But the Reds have won just one of their last seven matches and may be low on confidence going into this game.
The Hammers, meanwhile, will be buzzing after securing a first win at Old Trafford since 2007 and there have been enough signs of improvement under Graham Potter to suggest they can secure a fourth straight home draw on Sunday.
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