Nottingham Forest vs Midtjylland Prediction: Hosts’ wait for a win to continue

Nottingham Forest will look to end their seven-game winless streak across all competitions when they host FC Midtjylland at the City Ground in the Uefa Europa League on Thursday (20:00 BST, TNT Sports 1). Ange Postecoglou has been in charge for five of them and their fortune doesn't seem to be changing any time soon.

Read on for my Nottingham Forest vs Midtjylland predictions, aided by the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Forest are still missing right-back Ola Aina because of a hamstring injury, which is going to keep him out of action for some time. Douglas Luiz has a similar issue and he is set to miss out on Thursday.

Key defender Murillo has been dealing with a knock in recent weeks and has missed his side's last four matches in all competitions.

Postecoglou is expected to restore Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Igor Jesus to the starting XI here after all three started at Real Betis on matchday one.

Jesus scored twice in that stalemate and he will be hoping to carry on his good form in the hopes of landing a start in the Premier League.

Football Odds

Ovie Ejeheri (ineligible) and Mikel Gogorza (hamstring) are both unavailable for selection for the visitors, but Dario Osorio has recovered from a muscle problem and may have a part to play in the East Midlands.

Two ex-Premier League stars are set to feature at the City Ground in Philip Billing (AFC Bournemouth) and Kevin Mbabu (Fulham) in midfield and defence respectively.

Should full-back Paulinho play in this match, it would be his 29th European appearance for Midtjylland, making him the Wolves' all-time record appearance maker in Europe.

Today's Football Fixtures

Nottingham Forest vs Midtjylland Odds

Forest have won just one of their three competitive home games this season but they are perceived as the 1/2 favourites here.

Having won four games in a row across all competitions, Midtjylland are an attractive 11/2 to collect the victory, which has an implied probability of 15.4%.

The hosts have drawn two of their previous three outings and the stalemate is marketed at 7/2.

After a brace in his last European appearance, Jesus is 1/1 to score anytime on Thursday.

Double Chance - Draw or Midtjylland @ 8/5

After last season's excellence, Forest's slow start to the season is rather disappointing but not completely surprising. They capitalised on many of the big clubs in the Premier League falling short of their standards and they have responded by investing heavily in their squads over the summer.

The power vacuum at the City Ground led to owner Evangelos Marinakis siding with head of football operations, Edu Gaspar, over Nuno Espirito Santo, who was dismissed for Postecoglou.

The Aussie coach still awaits his first win and this will be his sixth attempt - and once again it won't be an easy fixture.

Midtjylland have lost just once in 18 competitive appearances this term and have won each of their past four outings heading to Nottinghamshire. They won all but one of their six Europa League qualifiers, and started the league phase with a home triumph over Sturm Graz.

The Danish outfit will have no fear heading to a Premier League side, especially one who haven't won since their opening match of the campaign.

I believe the visitors offer really good value to get a result on Thursday and I would like the insurance of a draw, which has been the outcome in two of Forest's previous three games heading into this contest.

Both teams to score @ 4/5

With the attacking threat Midtjylland pose - having blanked in just one of their 18 matches this season - I am confident that this fixture will provide goals. Both teams to score looks a sensible selection as a result.

For all of Forest's issues that are holding them back from winning games, they are still finding the net in most games, although they have now blanked in their past two home appearances - with the latest coming against Sunderland on Saturday.

BTTS has been a successful bet in five of the Tricky Trees' eight outings this campaign, including three of their last four coming into Thursday.

For the visitors, this has been a winning selection in two of their previous three away trips in the Europa League.

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