Matchweek eight in the Premier League kicks off on Friday with a contest between Ipswich and Nottingham Forest. Based on preseason expectations, these teams are in opposite spots in the table. With three wins in seven contests, recently promoted Ipswich are solidly mid-table, while 1-2-4 Forest sit in the relegation zone. Will their fortunes continue to reverse in this contest? Or will Forest waltz in and take all three points on the road?
Nottingham Forest are +130 moneyline favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, with a +255 draw. Ipswich’s moneyline is set at +220.
Ipswich vs. Nottingham Forest Prediction, Pick
Ipswich sure know how to stay scrappy. So far, all of their losses have been to much bigger clubs: Man City, Man United, Liverpool, Everton, and Arsenal in an EFL Cup tie. But they’ve also pulled off upsets over Fulham, Crystal Palace, and Sunderland early in the season. When you get promoted, the fight to stay up starts on day one, and nine points from their first seven Premier League matches will do just fine.
The Tractor Boys have won their points with timely counterattacks. Despite being 18th in total possession time, they’re fifth in total goals scored and have generated the 10th most xG. Julio Enciso, Emersonn, Leif Davis, and Zian Flemming have all had moments early in the season that fuel a well-measured attack. It’s been necessary, as the defense is a work in progress, but at least Ipswich have something to hang their hat on.
Forest has been quite a different case. They have the league’s most impotent attack, scoring only five goals in seven games. Outside of Morgan Gibbs-White and Dan Ndoye, the team is awfully light on creative attacking presence and may regret signing Liam Delap. The wing-backs, Neco Williams and Daniel Muñoz, haven’t been as impactful in attack as the team would hope for.
The defense has been competent enough to pick up points here and there, but it’s not so ironclad that it can withstand such a lackluster attack. Forest needs to find answers fast, or they’ll face a lot of difficult decisions during the winter transfer window.
Frankly, Forest are going to have to show me something here. Ipswich will hang back and play for the counter, forcing Nottingham’s attack to play in possession. I don’t expect them to find gaps against this Tractor Boys back line, and Ipswich’s counter threat poses problems for Forest’s three-back formation. I’ll take the value on Ipswich bringing home all three points.
