Nottingham Forest vs West Ham United: Predictions, Betting odds, Lineups, Preview

• West Ham’s woes look set to continue, with Ladbrokes predicting a 2-1 loss to Nottingham Forest on August 31.

• Forest have won the last three meetings between the sides, and many expect that run to continue.

• Chris Wood has two goals in two games this season and could exploit a West Ham defence that shipped five to Chelsea on August 22.

Explore Ladbrokes’ detailed preview for Nottingham Forest vs West Ham United in the Premier League. Stats, odds, predictions, and lineups for the 14:00 BST match.

• Fixture: Nottingham Forest vs West Ham United

• Date: Sunday, 31st August 2025

• Kick-off: 14:00 BST

• Venue: The City Ground

Match Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-1 West Ham United

Nottingham Forest head into this encounter having made a solid start to the season. A draw against Crystal Palace away followed a 3-1 home win over Brentford. They've shown they can hold their own on the road and dominate at the City Ground, which bodes well for this clash. 

Their attacking flair, led by the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood, could be the key to unlocking West Ham's defence. If they keep up their recent momentum, Forest could be in for a good day out.

West Ham have struggled this season, losing heavily to Chelsea at home and being thumped by Sunderland away. Their defence has been all over the place, and they'll need to tighten up if they want to get anything from this game. 

However, they do have players like Jarrod Bowen who can turn a game on its head, so they're not completely out of it. It's going to be a tough ask for them, but football's a funny old game.

Nottingham Forest are in fine fettle, having drawn away at Crystal Palace and convincingly beaten Brentford at home. This recent form suggests they're hitting their stride early in the campaign. With a solid defence and a potent attack, they'll be confident going into this match. If they can maintain their intensity and focus, they should be able to get the better of a West Ham side that's been leaking goals.

Recent Premier League Results:

• Draw: 1-1 vs Crystal Palace (A)

• Win: 3-1 vs Brentford (H)

West Ham are in a rut, having been hammered by Chelsea at home and losing to Sunderland away. Their defence has been a major concern, conceding eight goals in their first two league games. They'll need to shore things up at the back if they're to stand any chance against a confident Forest side. However, with players like Jarrod Bowen in their ranks, they always have the potential to pull off a surprise.

Recent Premier League Results:

• Loss: 1-5 vs Chelsea (H)

• Loss: 0-3 vs Sunderland (A)

Nottingham Forest have had the upper hand in recent meetings with West Ham, winning three of the last five encounters. The most recent clash saw Forest triumph 1-2 away at West Ham, adding to their convincing home victories earlier in the season.

Recent Premier League Results

• West Ham United 1-2 Nottingham Forest (18 May 2025)

• Nottingham Forest 3-0 West Ham United (02 Nov 2024)

• Nottingham Forest 2-0 West Ham United (17 Feb 2024)

• West Ham United 3-2 Nottingham Forest (12 Nov 2023)

• West Ham United 4-0 Nottingham Forest (25 Feb 2023)

• Nicolas Dominguez (Knee) - Out

• Luis Guilherme (Shoulder) - Out

• Crysencio Summerville (Hamstring) - Doubt

• Sels, Aina, Murillo, Milenković, Williams, Sangaré, Anderson,  Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Ndoye, Wood

With a consistent lineup, Nottingham Forest will aim to capitalise on their attacking options, particularly through the creativity of Morgan Gibbs-White and the finishing of Chris Wood. Their solid backline, led by Murillo and Milenković, should provide a strong foundation to build on.

• Hermansen, Todibo, Kilman, Aguerd, Wan-Bissaka, Ward-Prowse, Soucek, Diouf, Paquetá, Füllkrug, Bowen 

West Ham will need to rely on the creativity of James Ward-Prowse and Lucas Paquetá to unlock Forest's defence. Their back three of Hermansen, Kilman, and Aguerd will be crucial in stopping Forest's attacking threats.

• Neco Williams vs Jarrod Bowen: Williams will have his hands full trying to contain the dangerous Bowen.

• Ibrahim Sangaré vs Lucas Paquetá: Sangaré's midfield battle with Paquetá could be key to controlling the game's tempo.

• Callum Hudson-Odoi (Nottingham Forest): His pace and trickery on the wing could be a game-changer for Forest.

• James Ward-Prowse (West Ham United): His set-piece expertise and midfield control will be vital for West Ham's chances.

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.