Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea Prediction: Yates to see yellow against Blues again

Nottingham Forest gave their Premier League survival hopes a big boost last weekend with a 3-1 win over already-relegated Sheffield United, and the Tricky Trees could confirm their top-tier status for another season against Chelsea on Saturday (17:30, Sky Sports Main Event), depending on the result of Luton Town's trip to West Ham United earlier in the day.

Below you can find my Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea prediction as the hosts look to do the double over their opponents, having secured a famous victory over the Blues at Stamford Bridge in September courtesy of a second-half strike from Anthony Elanga.

Callum Hudson-Odoi was the hero for Forest last week, scoring twice to help his side recover from going a goal down to Ben Brereton Diaz's penalty. Ryan Yates was also on the scoresheet as the East Midlands club went three points clear of 18th-placed Luton and five clear of Burnley.

Forest have won just twice at the City Ground in 2024, however, and have triumphed just once in their last six games there, albeit the three defeats they have suffered on home soil in that period have come against lavish spenders in Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United, the latter loss being in the FA Cup.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have picked up some form again after a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Man City in the FA Cup semi-final on April 20 and a harrowing 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Arsenal three days later.

The Blues came from two goals down at Villa Park to draw 2-2 with Aston Villa before beating Tottenham Hotspur (2-0) and West Ham United (5-0) at Stamford Bridge, and they are now seventh, just two points behind Newcastle United and a potential Europa League spot.

Team News

Nicolas Dominguez and Taiwo Awoniyi made their respective returns from injury at Bramall Lane last weekend and look set for substitute outings again this weekend, but Saturday's game could come too soon for Nico Williams, who is suffering with a thigh complaint.

Chelsea's lengthy injury list still contains the likes of Wesley Fofana, Ben Chilwell, Romeo Lavia and Enzo Fernandez, but Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino received a significant boost this week with the news that club captain Reece James has returned to training and could be in the squad for the trip to the East Midlands.

Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea Odds

Saturday's hosts are 12/5 to do the double over Chelsea, giving them an implied win probability of 29.4%, while the visitors are 1/1, or a 50% chance, to win a third straight game.

The draw can be backed at 11/4, both teams to score at 4/9, and over 3.5 goals at 6/5.

September's Stamford Bridge hero Elanga is 100/30 to reprise his role as first goalscorer, while Chelsea duo Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson, who both scored against West Ham last week - twice in the latter's case - are 23/20 and 13/8 respectively to find the net anytime.

We will be Top Price or joint Top Price on Chelsea to beat Nottingham Forest with selected bookmakers using oddschecker.com for the comparison (Available from 09:30 Saturday)

Callum Hudson-Odoi 2+ shots on target @ 9/2

The Chelsea academy graduate has excelled since leaving Stamford Bridge permanently last summer, scoring seven Premier League goals in 27 appearances. Two of those strikes came last week as his brace helped put the Blades to the sword at Bramall Lane, and he has been a constant menace in front of goal over the past seven matches.

Hudson-Odoi has registered a shot on target in each of his last seven outings, including two in games against Everton, Fulham - against whom he scored on April 2 - and Crystal Palace.

The 23-year-old wasn't in the squad in September as Forest secured a famous victory over Chelsea, so you can imagine he will be fired up to prove his worth this time around in his return game against his beloved club, with whom he won the Champions League with in 2021.

At 9/2, Hudson-Odoi is great value to hit at least two shots on target for the fourth time in his last eight appearances, particularly as Chelsea have allowed at least four shots on target in all seven of their Premier League away outings this calendar year.

Trips to Arsenal (10 shots on target allowed) and Liverpool (13) were particularly brutal, while even games at lowly sides in Sheffield United (six) and Brentford (five) highlighted their defensive deficiencies.

Ryan Yates to be carded @ 5/2

Yates has come under fire from Forest fans this season for a series of poor performances, but he gave them something to shout about for the right reasons last Saturday as he put Nuno Espirito Santo's side in front in South Yorkshire before Hudson-Odoi grabbed his second to make sure of the points.

That was the 26-year-old's first Premier League goal, but something he is more accustomed to seeing is a yellow card. He picked up five bookings in 26 league appearances last season and has already bettered that total by one during the current campaign.

Two of those yellows have arrived in his last five games, including one at Goodison Park against Everton when he was only introduced in the 80th minute.

Against the likes of Palmer and Noni Madueke in the Chelsea attack, Yates will need to be at his combative best to help his side grind out a positive result, and we could also see a tough battle in midfield between him and Blues enforcer Conor Gallagher, who is no stranger to putting himself about.

Yates was booked in September's reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge and was also cautioned in the corresponding meeting between the sides at the City Ground last season when the sides played out a 1-1 draw on New Year's Day 2023.

That means the Englishman has been carded in two of three head-to-heads between them since Forest's promotion, and you can even go further back to an FA Cup tie in January 2020, when Yates was booked once again against the Blues.

Betfred are running their famed Double Delight & Hat-trick Heaven offer on this match, meaning that if a player scores first and then nets again, you will be paid at double the odds. If he grabs a hat-trick, you will be paid at treble the odds!

Check out the rest of our Football Betting Tips here.