Stoke City v Nottingham Forest Betting Tips – EFL Championship, 27th September 20.00pm
Struggling Stoke City entertain in-form Nottingham Forest at the bet365 Stadium on Friday night. The Potters have made a woeful start to their campaign, sitting second from bottom in the EFL Championship with just two points to their name. Meanwhile, Forest are sixth on 15 points, only two points off the top. Victory for the Reds on Friday will take them to the summit ahead of the weekend fixtures. Can Stoke secure their first league win of the season, or will Forest’s impressive run continue?
Stoke City v Nottingham Forest Betting Odds*
Stoke City 11/8
Draw 9/4
Nottingham Forest 21/10
* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on September 26th, 2019 at 14:00 p.m.)
EFL Championship Betting at Bet365
Table of Contents
Stoke City News and Form – Another defeat for the Potters?
Stoke City, who were relegated from the Premier League in May 2018, had a poor first season back in the Championship last term, going on to finish in 16th spot on just 55 points.
Things have not been great this season, either, as City find themselves in 23rd place after eight matches. Nathan Jones’ boys have really struggled to get going, failing to win any of their opening eight fixtures in the league. Stoke have drawn two and lost six.
The Potters stopped a run of four consecutive league defeats last Saturday, as they battled to a 0-0 draw with Thomas Frank’s Brentford at Griffin Park. However, they were then beaten on penalties by EFL League Two outfit Crawley Town in the Carabao Cup in midweek.
Stoke have been in miserable form of late, and the pressure is really starting to mount on Jones. With games against Swansea City and Fulham on the horizon, Jones’ days at the bet365 could be numbered. Still, can his side pick up their first league win since April on Friday?
Stoke City v Nottingham Forest Head to Head
When the teams last played, Stoke picked up a 2-0 home win back in March
Almost a year do the day, Forest beat Stoke 3-2 at the City Ground in the League Cup
Forest’s last league win over the Potters came way back on New Year’s Day in 2005
There have been three goalless draws in the past six Stoke v Forest meetings
- Stoke have taken just two points from a possible 24
- Nottingham Forest will go top with a win
- Forest have not lost in the league since the opening weekend
Nottingham Forest News and Form – Will the Reds move to the top?
Sabri Lamouchi’s first game in charge of Nottingham Forest ended in a 2-1 home defeat to West Bromwich Albion. However, the Reds are unbeaten in the league since then, accumulating an impressive 15 points from a possible 21.
Nottingham Forest have been excellent so far this term, picking up wins over Birmingham City, Fulham, Swansea and Barnsley. After drawing 1-1 with Preston North End in late August, the Reds have sealed back-to-back 1-0 win over the Swans and Tykes to move into the play-off places in the Championship.
Forest are flying high in the league, but they were thumped by Unai Emery’s Arsenal in the Carabao Cup in midweek. The Premier League Gunners were on fire at the Emirates Stadium, firing in five goals without reply. That was Forest’s first defeat since losing to West Brom at the City Ground on the opening weekend of the Championship season.
Nottingham Forest could be dark horses in the race for promotion to the Premier League this season. Ahead of Friday’s fixture at the bet365 Stadium, you can get the Reds at 11/2 to be promoted. Meanwhile, they are available at 25/1 to win the title. Can Forest get the win to move to the top of the division on Friday?
Stoke City v Nottingham Forest Tips & Odds
Nottingham Forest to win and both teams to score at 11/2
Team to score first – Nottingham Forest at 5/4
* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on September 26th, 2019 at 14:05 p.m.)
Stoke City v Nottingham Forest Predictions
Nottingham Forest win: Make no mistake about it, Stoke City are a club in crisis at the present. The Potters go into this one having won just one of their last 19 Championship encounters. If results go against them, City could prop up the table by the end of the weekend.
In contrast, Nottingham Forest look to be going places under Lamouchi. The Reds seem capable of beating anyone in the Championship on their day, and Forest will be targeting all three points from Friday’s trip to the Potteries. Check out the tempting odds of 11/2 for the visitors to win and both teams to score. I also fancy Forest to net first in this one at 5/4.
