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Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Prediction: Key Stats and Betting Tips

Nottingham Forest welcome Tottenham to the City Ground on 5 September 2026 in Premier League Regular Season – 3, with both sides desperate to kick-start their campaigns. Forest have taken a single point from their opening two matches and sit 15th, while Tottenham are bottom in 20th after two defeats without scoring.

With early-season pressure already building, this fixture looks like a pivotal benchmark for both managers. Forest’s numbers suggest a side that can create and score away from home but still lacks defensive control, while Tottenham’s blunt attack and leaky defence have raised serious concerns. For bettors and fans looking for a detailed Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham prediction, this clash offers intriguing angles across the match result and goals markets.

At the City Ground, where Forest have recently enjoyed strong head-to-head results against Spurs, the hosts will see this as a prime opportunity to pull clear of the bottom pack. Tottenham, meanwhile, need a response after a poor start and a recent history of difficult trips to Nottingham.

Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Key Stats

  • Nottingham Forest are 15th with 1 point from 2 matches, scoring 2 and conceding 3 in the Premier League standings.
  • Forest have beaten Tottenham 3-0 and 3-0 in their last two Premier League meetings (22 March 2026 and 14 December 2025), and also won 2-1 away on 21 April 2025.
  • Tottenham have failed to score in both league games this season, with 0 goals for and 5 against across 2 fixtures according to their team statistics.

Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham — Tale of the Tape

  • Position: 15 vs 20
  • Points: 1 vs 0
  • Goals For: 2 vs 0
  • Goals Against: 3 vs 5
  • Clean Sheets: 0 vs 0

After two matchdays, Nottingham Forest’s profile is that of a mid-table side still searching for balance. They have drawn once and lost once (2 goals scored, 3 conceded), with their only home outing ending in a 0-1 defeat. The away draw, where they scored twice, hints at some attacking potential, but defensive lapses remain an issue.

Tottenham’s early numbers are more alarming. Two defeats from two, 0 goals scored and 5 conceded, leave them bottom with a -5 goal difference. Both at home and away they have failed to find the net, and their goals-against average of 2.5 per game underlines a side that is too open without carrying enough threat going the other way. With no clean sheets for either team, defensive reliability is in short supply on both sides.

Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Key Matchups

M. Gibbs-White vs Tottenham midfield unit

M. Gibbs-White is Forest’s standout creative force in the early Premier League campaign. In 2 appearances and 180 minutes, he has produced 1 goal and 1 assist, underlining his direct involvement in all of Forest’s league goals so far. His attacking statistics are strong: 4 shots (1 on target), 59 completed passes with 83% accuracy, and 1 key pass. He also contributes defensively with 2 tackles and 1 interception, and wins almost half of his duels (10 out of 21).

Against a Tottenham midfield that has yet to impose itself and has not registered a goal or assist in the league data provided, Gibbs-White’s ability to receive between the lines, dribble (8 attempts, 4 successful) and win fouls (3 drawn) could tilt the balance. If Spurs cannot contain him, Forest will continue to generate high-quality chances at home.

O. Aina vs Tottenham wide attackers

O. Aina, listed as a defender for Forest, brings both aggression and forward thrust from the back line. He has played 160 minutes across 2 appearances with a solid 7.05 rating, contributing 58 passes (4 key passes) and 2 successful dribbles from 7 attempts. His duel numbers (20 contested, 10 won) show a defender who relishes physical battles.

However, Aina’s discipline is a factor: he has already collected 2 yellow cards, making him one of the leading card recipients in the league data. Up against Tottenham’s pace and trickery in wide and half-space positions, his willingness to step out and engage could both disrupt Spurs’ build-up and offer them set-piece opportunities if his timing is off. Managing that balance will be crucial for Forest’s defensive stability.

Head-to-Head: Last Meetings

Recent head-to-head clashes between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham have been surprisingly tilted towards the Midlands club, especially in the last two seasons. The City Ground and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium have both hosted decisive Forest wins in that period.

  • 22 March 2026: Tottenham 0-3 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
  • 14 December 2025: Nottingham Forest 3-0 Tottenham (Premier League)
  • 21 April 2025: Tottenham 1-2 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
  • 26 December 2024: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Tottenham (Premier League)
  • 7 April 2024: Tottenham 3-1 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)

Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Prediction

Stats suggest this is a meeting of a Forest side with upward momentum against a Tottenham team struggling badly at both ends of the pitch. Forest’s comparison indices are dominant: they lead the form index 100 to 0, attack 100 to 0, and overall total 71.3 to 29.0. Tottenham’s defence index lags behind as well, 38 versus Forest’s 63, despite Forest’s own defensive imperfections.

The prediction model gives Nottingham Forest a 50% chance of winning, with a 50% chance of a draw and effectively no chance assigned to a Tottenham victory (0 out of 100). That aligns with the recent H2H pattern: Forest have taken maximum points in the last four Premier League meetings, scoring 9 and conceding just 1 in those matches.

Market odds, however, see this as a near pick’em: home win prices range roughly from 2.34 to 2.62 (implied probability around 38.2% to 42.7%), while away win odds sit between about 2.65 and 2.88 (around 34.7% to 37.7%). The draw is generally the longest price at around 3.06 to 3.50 (approximately 28.6% to 32.7%). That discrepancy between model and market suggests Forest are slightly undervalued, especially given Tottenham’s goal drought.

With Forest creating more, Gibbs-White in form, and Tottenham yet to score, the most likely match flow is Forest edging a relatively tight contest, with Spurs improving slightly but still short of full fluency.

Predicted Score: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Tottenham

Nottingham Forest Recent Form

Forest’s recent Premier League form is mixed but not disastrous. They have one draw and one defeat from their first two matches, reflecting the form line “DL”. Across those games, they have scored 2 goals (average 1.0 per match) and conceded 3 (average 1.5). They failed to score in their only home outing so far but hit two away from home, underlining some inconsistency between venues.

Tottenham Recent Form

Tottenham’s recent form is poor, with two straight league defeats (“LL”) to open the season. They have yet to score, averaging 0.0 goals for per match, and are conceding 2.5 per game (5 conceded in total). Both home and away they have lost by multiple-goal margins, and there is no clean sheet to point to as a foundation.

Nottingham Forest Possible Starting Lineup

GK: M. Sels or S. Benda; Defenders: O. Aina, N. Milenković, Morato, Murillo, L. Netz, N. Williams; Midfielders: N. Domínguez, M. Gibbs-White, I. Sangaré, X. Schlager, R. Yates; Forwards: C. Hudson-Odoi, L. Delap, O. Hutchinson, Igor Jesus, A. Kalimuendo, D. Ndoye, C. Wood.

Forest have typically lined up in a 3-4-2-1 shape this season, used in both of their league fixtures. That system suits their depth in central defenders and attacking midfielders like M. Gibbs-White. With multiple options in attack, from the physical presence of C. Wood to the mobility of L. Delap and A. Kalimuendo, Forest can vary their approach. The main concern is at the back, where no clean sheets and 3 goals conceded indicate that the back three and wing-backs are still adjusting.

Tottenham Possible Starting Lineup

GK: B. Austin or M. Dúbravka; Defenders: K. Danso, B. Davies, M. Senesi, M. van de Ven, D. Udogie, A. Robertson; Midfielders: Pedro Porro, R. Bentancur, C. Gallagher, P. Sarr, X. Simons, J. Maddison, S. Tonali, M. Kudus; Forwards: Omar Marmoush, Richarlison, Sávio, D. Scarlett, D. Solanke, M. Tel.

Tottenham have used a 4-2-3-1 formation in both league matches so far. On paper, the squad has strong technical quality in midfield and attack, with creative profiles like J. Maddison and X. Simons, and finishers such as Richarlison and D. Solanke. However, the lack of goals and the 5 conceded suggest that the structure is not yet coherent, particularly in defensive transitions and pressing. The back four and double pivot will need to be far more compact at the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest Team News

No significant absences reported.

Tottenham Team News

No significant absences reported.

Injuries & Suspensions

Nottingham Forest:

  • None reported.

Tottenham:

  • None reported.

Betting Tips: Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham

Exactly 3 distinct tips from different markets:

  • Result Tip: Back Nottingham Forest Draw No Bet (or double chance Forest or draw). The prediction model gives Forest a 50% win probability and 50% draw probability, with Tottenham at 0%. Forest are unbeaten in the last four Premier League meetings with Spurs and have dominated recent head-to-heads. With home odds for a straight win ranging from about 2.34 to 2.62 (implied 38.2%–42.7%), taking Forest with some draw protection looks attractive given Tottenham’s current form.
  • Goals Tip: Under 3.5 total goals. Forest average 1.0 goals for and 1.5 against per game so far, while Tottenham have 0.0 goals for and 2.5 against. Spurs’ failure to score in both matches and Forest’s relatively modest attacking output, especially at home, point towards a match unlikely to explode into a high-scoring shootout. The model’s low confidence in a Tottenham win further supports a controlled, possibly cagey game state.
  • Value Tip: Nottingham Forest to score first. Forest have scored in one of their two matches and possess an in-form creator in M. Gibbs-White (1 goal, 1 assist in 2 games), while Tottenham have yet to find the net and have conceded in every match. With markets broadly rating the match as even (away odds around 2.65–2.88, home around 2.34–2.62), the early goal value leans towards the side that is actually scoring and creating more.

Odds are accurate at the time of writing and subject to change. Please gamble responsibly.

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