bet365
BetMGM
Betfred
BetVictor
BetUK
LiveScoreBet
10Bet
Virgin Bet
EasyBet
Nottingham Forest vs Blackburn Rovers: New Managers, Tactical Experiments and a Portuguese Test. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
Nottingham Forest approach this friendly after a 2-0 win, boasting a strong recent record against Blackburn with four wins in five meetings. Their attacking line creates central overloads, while Blackburn’s counter-attacking threat exploits spaces behind Forest’s wing-backs. Defensive absences for Forest increase chances of both teams scoring, but Forest are expected to maintain control and win.
A 2-1 scoreline fits historical and recent data, with matches averaging 2.4 goals and Forest scoring 1.8 on average. Forest’s creative players and attacking rhythm should secure a narrow win, while Blackburn’s compact defence and counter-attacks offer enough threat to score once.
Compare form, H2H, goals trends and key data for Nottingham Forest v Blackburn.
Nottingham Forest and Blackburn Rovers continue their pre-season preparations on Wednesday morning, with both clubs using their Portuguese training camps to accelerate major managerial transitions.
Nottingham Forest vs Blackburn Rovers — bet365 Market Snapshot
Swipe through key markets with illustrative probabilities and sample bet365 odds based on our match analysis.
Forest’s recent dominance and attacking edge suggest they are favourites to win this friendly.
Forest’s games often feature goals at both ends, while Blackburn’s tighter matches suggest a moderate scoring affair.
The 2-1 scoreline reflects the typical goal output and competitive balance between these sides.
Forest’s midfield creativity through Gibbs-White and McAtee is key to breaking down Blackburn’s defence.
Three Punchy Stats
- Forest have won four of their last five meetings with Blackburn, losing only once and drawing none. That record gives the Premier League side a clear recent advantage in the fixture, even if a friendly carries a very different competitive context.
- The teams have produced an average of 2.4 goals per meeting, with Forest scoring 1.8 and Blackburn 0.6 on average. Forest’s stronger attacking return has been the defining numerical difference between them.
- Blackburn lost 20 of their 46 Championship matches last season, while Forest won eight of Pereira’s 20 games before changing manager again. Both clubs enter this contest with obvious reasons to seek greater stability.
Attacking Efficiency Comparison
Forest’s sharper scoring contrasts with Blackburn’s more restrained attack.
Forest’s consistent goal scoring gives them a clear attacking advantage over Blackburn.
Blackburn Rovers can trouble Nottingham Forest by turning promising attacks into cleaner final actions.
Defensive Solidity Comparison
Blackburn’s compact defence challenges Forest’s evolving back three.
Forest’s defensive adjustments due to injuries may expose vulnerabilities against Blackburn’s attack.
Blackburn’s defensive discipline aims to frustrate Forest’s creative midfielders and wing-backs.
For Forest, this is another opportunity for Oliver Glasner to establish his methods after beginning his tenure with a 2-0 victory over Notts County. Blackburn arrive unbeaten in pre-season and with Tony Mowbray attempting to restore confidence to a squad that finished only five points above the Championship relegation zone last season.
The result will matter less than the performances, but that does not make the contest meaningless. Players are competing for starting positions, managers are testing partnerships and both teams need to develop a recognisable identity before the competitive schedule begins.
Friendlies are often dismissed as glorified fitness sessions. That is only half true. Nobody should be planning an open-top bus parade in July, but tactical habits established now can shape how a side behaves when the pressure becomes real.
Glasner begins reshaping Nottingham Forest
Forest are preparing for life under their fifth different manager in less than 12 months. That level of change makes continuity difficult, particularly when each new coach arrives with different expectations regarding pressing, possession and defensive organisation.
Vitor Pereira won eight of his 20 matches in charge and guided Forest away from danger, with the club eventually finishing 16th in the Premier League. His spell ended after 137 days when a mutual break clause was activated, opening the door for Glasner.
The Austrian has spoken about creating a winning environment, and his first match offered an encouraging starting point. Forest controlled their meeting with Notts County sufficiently to win 2-0, with Arnaud Kalimuendo and Igor Jesus scoring.
A clean sheet was useful, but the attacking involvement of Kalimuendo and Jesus may have been even more significant. Pre-season is partly about conditioning, yet forwards need rhythm, timing and belief. A striker can run all the shuttle drills in the world, but nothing lifts the mood quite like seeing the ball hit the net.
Jesus could start against Blackburn, potentially operating alongside James McAtee and Morgan Gibbs-White in the attacking line. That combination would give Forest several players capable of receiving between midfield and defence.
The possible shape also points towards a back three, with Zach Abbott, Nikola Milenkovic and Morato behind wing-backs Ola Aina and Neco Williams. If Forest use that structure, their width should come from the outside defenders, allowing McAtee and Gibbs-White to occupy narrower creative positions.
That arrangement can create overloads through the middle. It can also leave spaces behind the wing-backs if possession is lost carelessly. Blackburn’s response to those spaces will be one of the more revealing tactical themes of the game.
Why Forest’s midfield balance matters
Ryan Yates and Nicolas Dominguez could form the central midfield partnership. Their responsibilities would extend well beyond circulating possession.
In a three-at-the-back system, the central midfielders must protect the areas vacated when the wing-backs advance. If both move forward too aggressively, Forest could become vulnerable to direct passes into Blackburn’s forwards. If they remain too cautious, the attacking players may become isolated.
Gibbs-White could therefore be pivotal. His potential involvement gives Forest a player who can connect the midfield to the attack, receive in crowded areas and help move possession towards Jesus.
The technical challenge for Glasner is to create enough freedom for his creative players without weakening the team’s rest defence. Rest defence is the structure a side keeps behind the ball while attacking. It determines whether a team can stop counter-attacks before they gather momentum.
This is where pre-season performances can be more informative than scorelines. A 1-0 victory achieved through disconnected football may teach a manager less than a draw in which the pressing distances and passing angles improve.
Forest’s recent matches underline the need for balance. Across their last six games, they have scored an average of 1.5 goals and conceded 1.67. Both teams scored in 67% of those fixtures, while three of the six produced more than 2.5 goals.
Those numbers suggest Forest’s games have frequently contained attacking opportunities at both ends. Glasner’s task is not simply to make the team more adventurous. It is to make their aggression controlled.
Mowbray’s Blackburn rebuild begins with stability
Blackburn enter their eighth consecutive Championship campaign after finishing 20th last season. Their record of 13 wins, 13 draws and 20 defeats across 46 league matches highlights the inconsistency Mowbray must address.
The returning head coach has spoken about adding “magic dust” to the current squad. It is a charming phrase, although even the finest magic dust tends to work better when accompanied by compact defending and reliable passing.
Blackburn have made an unbeaten start to pre-season. They followed a goalless draw with Accrington Stanley by defeating Barnsley 3-0 in a behind-closed-doors friendly.
The contrast between those two results is useful. Rovers have already experienced a match in which they were unable to score and another in which they found the net three times. Against Forest, Mowbray will want to see whether his players can retain their defensive discipline while offering a greater threat in possession.
Moussa Baradji is Blackburn’s only incoming player of the current transfer window, with his previous loan made permanent. He could start in midfield alongside Adam Forshaw, Mathias Jorgensen and Noah De Neve.
That potential midfield unit may be asked to work across the width of the pitch, deny Forest easy access into central areas and support Yuki Ohashi and Andri Gudjohnsen in attack.
Ohashi scored a team-high 10 goals last season. His movement will be important if Blackburn are to exploit the spaces around Forest’s back three. Rather than competing exclusively through the middle, he may look to drift towards the channels between a centre-back and wing-back.
Gudjohnsen could provide a second reference point, giving Rovers the option of playing more directly when Forest press high. The quality of Blackburn’s first pass after regaining possession could decide whether their counter-attacks develop or disappear immediately.
Blackburn must improve their attacking output
Across their last six matches, Blackburn have averaged 0.83 goals scored and 1.17 conceded. Only two of those six fixtures went above 2.5 goals, while four stayed below that line.
That reflects a team whose recent contests have generally been tighter than Forest’s. It may also explain why Mowbray is looking for improvement from within the squad.
Blackburn do not necessarily need to dominate possession to cause problems. Their best route could involve defending in a compact block, encouraging Forest’s wing-backs to advance and then attacking the spaces left behind them.
However, that approach requires composure. Clearing the ball without direction would only invite another Forest attack. Rovers need Forshaw and Baradji to provide secure passing options when possession changes hands.
The wide defenders could also be placed under sustained pressure. If Gibbs-White or McAtee move into the half-spaces — the channels between the centre and the flank — Blackburn’s full-backs will have to decide whether to step inside or remain with Forest’s wing-backs.
Step inside too early and Aina or Williams may receive in space. Stay wide and Forest’s creators could turn centrally. It is the sort of tactical dilemma that looks simple on a diagram and considerably less amusing when the opposition are running directly at you.
Team availability could shape the tempo
Chris Wood and Ibrahim Sangare are due to rejoin Forest’s senior squad at the training camp and could be involved. Callum Hudson-Odoi is expected to be partly integrated into team training as he continues his recovery.
Murillo and Nicolo Savona are set to miss the game as they recover from hamstring and knee injuries respectively.
Their absences could give Forest’s alternative defenders valuable minutes. Glasner needs to assess not only individual quality but also how quickly his players understand the distances required between the back line and midfield.
Blackburn are expected to be without Scott Wharton because of a minor thigh strain, while Lewis Miller remains in recovery from a long-term Achilles injury.
Forshaw, Harry Pickering, Ryan Alebiosu, Tom Atcheson, Matty Litherland and Axel Henriksson each played 45 minutes against Barnsley and could feature again. Todd Cantwell and Ryoya Morishita are also available, giving Mowbray several options to alter the attacking structure during the game.
Substitutions are likely to disrupt the rhythm, as they often do in pre-season. That does not reduce their importance. The second half may reveal which younger or less-established players can maintain the tactical standards set by the starting side.
A useful examination for both managers
Forest should be the more assertive team, particularly if Glasner selects a creative group containing Gibbs-White, McAtee and Jesus. Their main objective will be to turn possession into coordinated attacks rather than simply collecting harmless passes.
Blackburn’s challenge is different. Mowbray needs to build a competitive structure, sharpen the team’s attacking transitions and identify which players can be trusted when Forest increase the intensity.
The match should offer both managers useful evidence. Glasner can examine how his evolving system copes against a compact opponent, while Mowbray can measure Blackburn’s defensive organisation and counter-attacking quality against Premier League opposition.
Nobody will remember every pass from a July friendly in Portugal. The players, however, may remember who understood the tactical instructions, who handled the heat and who made a convincing case to start when the serious football begins.
📊 Market Explainer
Both Teams to Score (BTTS)
Selection: Match Odds and Both Teams to Score – Nottingham Forest to Win & BTTS. Both teams must score at least once during normal time. The match winner does not matter; the selection is settled only by whether each side finds the net.
Correct Score Market
Selection: Correct Score – Nottingham Forest 2-1. Predict the exact score at the end of 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalties do not count unless the bookmaker states otherwise.
🎯 Pick 1: Match Odds and Both Teams to Score – Nottingham Forest to Win & BTTS @ 8/5
Oliver Glasner’s Nottingham Forest approach this pre-season fixture in Portugal following a 2-0 victory over Notts County, where forwards Arnaud Kalimuendo and Igor Jesus scored. Forest maintain a strong head-to-head record over Blackburn Rovers, winning four of their last five meetings while losing only once. In their recent six matches, Forest averaged 1.5 goals scored and 1.67 conceded, with both teams scoring in 67% of those encounters. Operating with James McAtee and Morgan Gibbs-White behind Igor Jesus in an attacking line, Forest create central overloads that allow wing-backs Ola Aina and Neco Williams to advance freely into wide attacking spaces.
Blackburn Rovers enter this match after a 3-0 victory over Barnsley and a goalless draw against Accrington Stanley under head coach Tony Mowbray. Rovers carry counter-attacking potential through Yuki Ohashi, who scored a team-high 10 goals last season, alongside forward Andri Gudjohnsen. Blackburn’s tactic of exploiting the space behind Forest’s advancing wing-backs provides a clear pathway to creating chances and scoring. However, Forest’s central midfield partnership of Ryan Yates and Nicolas Dominguez must protect the rest defence to prevent counter-attacks. Missing key defenders Murillo and Nicolo Savona due to hamstring and knee injuries requires structural adjustments for Forest, increasing the likelihood of Blackburn finding the net while Forest maintain overall control.
🎯 Tactical Indicators
- Forest won four of their last five head-to-head meetings with Blackburn Rovers.
- Both teams scored in 67% of Nottingham Forest's last six matches.
- Blackburn's top scorer Yuki Ohashi (10 goals) targets gaps behind advancing wing-backs.
Risk Factor: Pre-season squad rotation and experimental partnerships can disrupt defensive organization and momentum, affecting match flow and outcomes.
Key Tactical Mismatch
Central Creative Overloads
Gibbs-White and McAtee operate in narrow half-spaces, exploiting central pockets between midfield and defence.
Full-Back Positioning
Stepping inside leaves wing-backs Aina and Williams open wide, while staying wide opens central passing lanes to Jesus.
🎯 Pick 2: Correct Score – Nottingham Forest 2-1 @ 6/1
A 2-1 victory for Nottingham Forest aligns directly with historical and recent match records for both clubs. Across all past meetings between these sides, games produce an average of 2.4 goals, with Forest scoring an average of 1.8 goals and Blackburn averaging 0.6. Forest’s recent six matches averaged 1.5 goals scored and 1.67 conceded, reflecting regular offensive conversion alongside consistent defensive concessions. Igor Jesus, who scored in the previous 2-0 win over Notts County, provides a central finishing presence alongside potential minutes for rejoining forward Chris Wood and Ibrahim Sangare.
Blackburn Rovers average 0.83 goals scored and 1.17 goals conceded across their last six fixtures. Under head coach Tony Mowbray, Blackburn remain compact in defence with Adam Forshaw and Moussa Baradji operating in central midfield, while relying on Yuki Ohashi to exploit counter-attacking transitions. With Forest continuing to adapt to Oliver Glasner’s three-at-the-back system behind Zach Abbott, Nikola Milenkovic, and Morato, alongside missing key defenders Murillo and Nicolo Savona, defensive lapses remain likely. Blackburn possess sufficient attacking quality through Ohashi and Andri Gudjohnsen to break through once, yet Forest’s superior creative talent in Morgan Gibbs-White and James McAtee provides the drive required to secure a narrow two-goal victory.
Risk Factor: Substitutions and tactical experiments in pre-season can lead to unpredictable scoring patterns and late goals.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
⊕
What does the Match Odds and Both Teams to Score market mean?
The Match Odds and Both Teams to Score market requires selecting which team wins the match alongside predicting that both teams score at least once. Both conditions must happen for the bet to win.
⊕
How does the Correct Score market function in football betting?
The Correct Score market demands predicting the exact final scoreline at the end of normal time. Any score other than the specific chosen numbers results in a losing selection.
⊕
Why is Nottingham Forest favoured to win against Blackburn Rovers?
Nottingham Forest hold a superior head-to-head record over Blackburn, winning four of their past five meetings. Additionally, Forest compete in the Premier League while Blackburn finished 20th in the Championship last season.
⊕
What key tactical system is Oliver Glasner implementing at Nottingham Forest?
Oliver Glasner uses a back-three formation featuring advancing wing-backs Ola Aina and Neco Williams. This setup relies on narrow attacking midfielders to dominate central channels and create goalscoring chances.
⊕
Who are Blackburn Rovers’ primary goal threats in this fixture?
Yuki Ohashi stands out as Blackburn’s leading goalscorer after scoring 10 goals last season. He is supported in attack by Andri Gudjohnsen to exploit counter-attacking spaces behind Forest’s defence.
⊕
How do defensive injuries impact Nottingham Forest’s chances of keeping a clean sheet?
Absences of Murillo and Nicolo Savona force Forest to alter their defensive line. These structural adjustments increase the likelihood of defensive gaps that Blackburn can exploit during transitions.
⊕
What is the difference between Match Odds and Double Chance markets?
Match Odds requires picking one specific result (Win, Draw, or Loss). Double Chance covers two of the three possible match outcomes in a single bet, offering lower odds but increased probability.
⊕
Why do pre-season friendlies present unique risks for sports betting?
Pre-season friendlies feature frequent substitutions, tactical experiments, and varying fitness levels. These factors reduce match predictability compared to official competitive fixtures.
