Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the English Premier League match.
No side has started the English Premier League worse than West Ham United, and in midweek they also had to expend energy on an EFL Cup tie. Can West Ham United withstand Nottingham Forest’s pressure in the upcoming fixture?
Nottingham Forest
There are various rumours around Nottingham Forest, including talk of Nuno Espírito Santo being dismissed. Even so, the Portuguese coach who took the squad into Europe remains in place. Last weekend Nottingham Forest faced a stiff test from the holders of the FA Cup and the FA Community Shield, Crystal Palace, and it finished 1:1. Finishing was clinical: one shot on target, one goal. Against Brentford, incidentally, Nottingham Forest scored from a minimal number of attempts: three goals from five shots on target in a 3:1 win.
West Ham United
At the same time, Nottingham Forest are conceding one per game. West Ham United’s defence is a mess: 11 goals shipped across three matches, including Tuesday’s EFL Cup tie with Wolverhampton Wanderers (2:3). They also lost to fellow strugglers. The team allowed 19 shots, six of them on target. In the cup, Graham Potter changed his goalkeeper — in the league it had been Mads Hermansen, culpable for many of the goals, yet Alphonse Areola did not make them look any safer.
Nottingham Forest vs West Ham United Prediction
Nottingham Forest have Chris Wood, who has already started scoring this season, and now Igor Jesus has joined him, with the Brazilian carrying significant upside. We expect West Ham United to concede a couple and lose.
