Premier League: Fantastic Forest Look to Bounce Back

Nottingham Forest vs Brighton & Hove Albion 

It speaks volumes for their superb efforts that Nottingham Forest head into February in third place in the Premier League. Ahead of reigning champions Manchester City, ahead of Newcastle, ahead of Chelsea, and well ahead of Manchester United and Spurs.

Nuno Espirito Santo has, quite frankly, worked wonders in “Robin Hood” country and, as it stands, may well even surpass the superb achievements of Brighton in recent years. Ironically, the Seagulls are their opponents at the City Ground this weekend.

 

Talking Points

Be honest, did anyone really think Forest would be in the top three? Sure, this SBOTOP writer wasn’t anticipating a repeat of the scare they had last term when survival was only secured in the final week of the campaign. But to be above mid-table, let alone challenging for a European place, is something else.

It has been a true team effort from Santo and his players who have every right to dream about possible European qualification. Although there has been too many to mention, I do want to highlight the super contributions of goalkeeper Matz Sels along with Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic, perhaps the best centre-back pairing in England to date this term. Then there’s Chris Wood, joint fourth-highest scorer in the top-flight with 14 goals so far.

I could go on and mention midfield provocateurs Ryan Yates and Jota Silva, but you get the gist as it has been a real team effort.

With standout results aplenty, including victories at Anfield and Old Trafford, if they can secure a top four finish, it would be a magnificent feat.

Santo and his team have an unusual situation to respond to this weekend after arare sobering 90 minutes and a five-goal spanking at Bournemouth last Saturday.

Yet this is no team needing a knee-jerk reaction as they sit third on merit. If Forest’s feats have been top notch, Brighton’s form has also been encouraging. That may surprise you given their feats in recent years under Graham Potter and Roberto de Zerbi.

Yes, the league position of ninth may be slightly below their best, but they have managed to stay at the sharp end despite having a rookie manager and losing star players on an almost annual basis. That takes some doing and cannot be sustained forever, as their south coast rivals Southampton have found to their cost over the past decade.

A league double over United, two draws with Arsenal, victory over champions City and successes against Newcastle and Spurs have demonstrated that.

Young manager Fabian Hurzeler is certainly making an impression in England where he was offered a three-year contract after leading St. Pauli to the Bundesliga 2 title last year.He hasn’t won a home league game since the start of November, but they are in better form on their travels, most recently a convincing 3-1 success at Old Trafford 10 days ago.

Yankuba Minteh, who scored one and assisted another in that game, was left out of the starting XI by Hurzeler for a defeat to Everton last weekend after reporting late for pre-match preparations. He will likely return to the squad as both sides go in search of more Premier League 2025 highlights.

 

History 

Historically a close-run thing, Forest have 17 victories against Brighton to their name compared to 13 triumphs for the south coast team and 12 draws. Of the five meetings since Forest were promoted back to the Premier League in 2022, Brighton have held the slight upper hand following a league double last term.

An own goal separated the sides in Brighton’s favour in the second match after they also won 3-2 at the City Ground when Evan Ferguson and a Joao Pedro double, one from the penalty spot, won the day – sandwiched between an Anthony Elanga opener and a Morgan Gibbs-White spot kick.

The sides shared four goals when they met earlier in the season. On that occasion, a Wood penalty opened the scoring before Brighton came back to take the lead with two goals in three minutes through Jack Hinshelwood and Danny Welbeck. Ramon Sosa’s 70^th-minute goal ensured Forest fought back to earn a point.

Their very first meeting in August 1949 also ended two apiece, that contest in Division Three South.

 

Betting Tip

Forest have the edge with Premier League 2025 betting odds, but it’s mighty close. The boys from the Trent, which many fans believe the late great Brian Clough walked on due to his wonderful achievements – a book in his honour is named as such – are on offer 1X2 @ 2.46 and Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 2.20.

The Seagulls can be backed 1X2 @ 2.61 and Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 1.73. A re-run of last season’s meeting is on offer 32.00 @ with Correct Score 2-3.

If you are expecting a few goals, then it’s worth considering Over 2.50 @ 1.91 and, even more so, Total Goals 2-3 @ 1.98 and 4-6 @ 3.26. If you aren’t, then look at Total Goal 0-1 @ 3.20.

I do think there will be a few goals and have been tempted by the draw @ 3.20, but I am going to plump for Forest to edge home.

   

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