Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest Predictions

Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest predictions for this Premier League clash. Newcastle and Nottingham Forest seek redemption after setbacks in their Champions League chase, facing off in a crucial Premier League clash at St James’ Park on Sunday. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.

Premier League | Feb 23, 2025 at 2:00pm UK at St. James’ Park

Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest Predictions

Can the Magpies Make St James’ Park a Fortress Again?

• Forest struggle when conceding first
  • Nottingham Forest have lost five of their six Premier League matches this season when conceding the opening goal, highlighting their difficulty in turning games around.
• Newcastle’s home scoring record is impressive
  • The Magpies have scored at least three goals in four of their last six home league fixtures, showing their attacking potential at St James’ Park.
• Chris Wood’s fine form continues
  • Forest’s Kiwi striker has 18 Premier League goals this season and scored a hat-trick at St James’ Park last time out, making him the biggest threat for the visitors.

Best Bet for Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest

Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest will both be desperate to bounce back when they meet at St James’ Park this Sunday. With both sides suffering setbacks in their European ambitions last weekend, this clash carries significant weight in the battle for a top-four finish.

Eddie Howe’s Magpies are coming off a humbling 4-0 defeat against reigning champions Manchester City, a game in which they barely laid a glove on Pep Guardiola’s men. That loss marked their third in their last four league games, a worrying trend for a team that had started the season with top-four aspirations. Their only victory in this spell came against Southampton, the Premier League’s bottom side, which does little to inspire confidence ahead of this fixture.

Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, were left frustrated in a 2-1 defeat to Fulham, a result that saw their already unlikely title dreams take another hit. Chris Wood continued his fine goalscoring form, netting his 18th of the campaign, but defensive frailties once again proved costly for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men. They have now lost back-to-back away games and risk suffering a third consecutive defeat on the road, something they haven’t experienced since December 2023 under Steve Cooper.

Both teams are searching for a response, but Newcastle, in particular, will be keen to avoid a third successive home league defeat, a scenario they haven’t faced since 2021. With European qualification hopes still alive, this fixture is crucial for both sides.

Best Bet for Newcastle United vs Nottingham Forest: Newcastle to Win

At BettingTips4You, we don’t believe in overwhelming our readers with multiple predictions. Instead, we provide just one carefully selected best bet per match, ensuring that our analysis is focused on quality rather than quantity. For this game, the ultimate prediction is a Newcastle United victory.

Newcastle might be enduring a rough patch, but there are several compelling reasons to back them to get the job done at St James’ Park. Firstly, despite their recent struggles, they remain a formidable force at home. Yes, they’ve lost their last two Premier League outings in front of their own fans, but before that, they had been one of the league’s strongest home performers.

Forest, on the other hand, have been unpredictable on their travels. Their last two away games have ended in defeat, with the most recent being a 5-0 demolition by Bournemouth. While they might not suffer a similar collapse here, their defensive vulnerabilities are a concern. Even in their 2-1 defeat to Fulham, they allowed two goals from set-piece situations, which could spell trouble against a Newcastle side with plenty of aerial threats.

Alexander Isak, despite drawing a blank in his last two outings, remains a key figure for Newcastle. The Swedish striker has a fantastic record against Nottingham Forest, scoring in all three of his appearances against them. This could be the perfect game for him to get back on the scoresheet and lead his side to victory.

From a tactical standpoint, Newcastle’s pressing game could also pose problems for Forest. With Hudson-Odoi likely to return to the starting XI, Forest are expected to revert to a 4-2-3-1 formation. While this will improve their attacking play, it could also leave them more exposed defensively. Newcastle’s high-energy midfield trio of Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali, and Sean Longstaff will look to exploit this and dominate possession in key areas.

Adding to Forest’s worries, they will be without their first-choice goalkeeper Carlos Miguel, meaning Matz Sels will continue between the sticks. While Sels has been solid, he will need to be at his very best to keep out a Newcastle side that has scored at least three goals in four of their last six home league games.

Newcastle are in desperate need of a response, and with their Champions League ambitions hanging in the balance, expect a fired-up performance from Howe’s men.

“Despite Newcastle’s recent struggles, their home form over the season suggests they are still a strong force at St James’ Park. With Nottingham Forest looking vulnerable defensively, this is the perfect opportunity for the Magpies to get back on track.”
— BettingTips4You.com expert Gram Dodd

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Predicted Scoreline: Newcastle 3-1 Nottingham Forest

While Forest have been solid in attack—scoring in ten of their last 11 league games—their defensive weaknesses could prove costly here. Newcastle, despite recent setbacks, have still managed to score freely at home, and with Isak likely to be back among the goals, they should have enough firepower to secure the three points. A 3-1 scoreline seems a likely outcome, mirroring Newcastle’s victory at the City Ground earlier this season.

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