Nottingham Forest vs West Ham Prediction: Value lies with backing the hosts

West Ham United will look to bounce back from the six-goal drubbing they suffered against Arsenal last week, when they travel to Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon (15:00).

The hosts remain winless in 2024, while the two teams played out a five-goal thriller in the reverse fixture at the London Stadium back in mid-November.

Team News

Chris Wood is set to be absent for Forest as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury, while Ibrahim Sangare, Willy Boly and Ola Aina will all return from their Africa Cup of Nations exploits.

As for West Ham, Lucas Paqueta and Michail Antonio will be assessed ahead of kick-off following lengthy spells on the sidelines, and Kalvin Phillips is in contention to start in the engine room after the Hammers' poor showing last week.

Match Odds

Forest are 7/5 to claim a victory on home soil, the draw is 12/5 and a West Ham win is priced up at 2/1.

Taiwo Awoniyi is the favourite to score anytime at 6/4, and over 2.5 goals can be backed 4/5.

Nottingham Forest to win @ 7/5

West Ham were thumped 6-0 at home by Arsenal last week - the latest defeat in a string of disappointing performances in 2024 for David Moyes' side.

The Hammers are winless in their last seven in all competitions, which includes a defeat to Bristol City in the FA Cup, as well as a 3-0 defeat away at Old Trafford against Manchester United.

I think the value lies in backing Forest this weekend, and although they are yet to taste victory so far this year, it's not for lack of trying. They pushed Newcastle close last week in a 3-2 defeat, and managed to pick up a point away at Bournemouth the week prior.

Both teams to score @ 8/13

There should be plenty of goalmouth action on the cards in this one, with both teams scoring in 16 of Nottingham Forest’s 24 league games this term.

Neither defence is watertight - Forest's only shut-out in their last 15 matches came in the fourth-round FA Cup clash with Bristol City on January 26, while West Ham have shipped 12 goals in their last four outings.

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