Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the English Premier League match.
If Nottingham Forest fail to beat Leicester City as well, questions will be raised about what has gone wrong for a team once capable of upsetting the league’s biggest names. The slump in form is undeniable, but surely there must be a limit to how far things can slide.
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest could not afford to drop points in Matchweek 35 against Crystal Palace, yet they did so again, settling for a draw. In the closing stages, Nottingham Forest were somewhat fortunate, as Crystal Palace applied sustained pressure near Matz Sels’ goal but were wasteful throughout — only 3 of their 20 shots found the target. That result marks the fourth time in five matches that points have been dropped. The only scenario in which Nottingham Forest can reach the Champions League is by winning all three of their remaining fixtures — including the final one against Chelsea.
Leicester City
Leicester City are the weakest of the remaining opponents. The 2016 English Premier League champions have already been relegated, and Jamie Vardy, the last remaining player from that historic title-winning squad, is expected to leave at the end of the season. For now, though, he remains part of the team and scored the opening goal in last weekend’s win over Southampton. It was only his eighth English Premier League goal of the season, yet he remains the club’s top scorer — a stark reflection of the challenges faced by a side rooted to the bottom of the standings.
Nottingham Forest vs Leicester City Prediction
That win against Southampton carries little weight, given the similar level of quality between the two sides. Nottingham Forest must defeat Leicester City if they are to avoid undermining all they have worked towards. By how much? It could be by one, two or even three goals — but the Total Goals are unlikely to exceed 3.5.
