For different reasons, this is a big Premier League clash for both Nottingham Forest and West Ham United. The hosts, under the constant cloud of a potential looming points deduction, haven’t enjoyed a victory in 90 minutes in any of their eight competitive matches in 2024 (D5, L3). Subsequently, they finished the last round just two points clear of the relegation zone.
Nottingham Forest have been architects of their own downfall all too often this season – last week’s 3-2 defeat to Newcastle was yet more evidence of that as the Magpies’ two goals from set-pieces means no side has conceded from more such situations than Forest this season (15). That extended a rotten record of just 11 clean sheets from their 62 league matches since the start of last season – no other ever-present top-flight side in that time has fewer.
West Ham United may enter the round in the top-eight, but the mood is glum at the London Stadium. The Hammers’ 6-0 mauling at the hands of Arsenal on Sunday extended their own winless run in 2024 to seven games (D4, L3), and with heavy 5-0 (vs Fulham), 5-1 (vs Liverpool) and 3-0 (vs Manchester United) defeats still fresh in the memory from these past two months alone, pressure is intensifying on manager David Moyes.
With this being one of four straight league matches against sides currently in the bottom-half of the table, Moyes will be hoping he can alleviate some of that pressure with a good run of form. However, continuing their recent trajectory could see West Ham United lose three PL games without scoring for the first time since August 2022 – that streak also included a 1-0 loss away at Forest.
Players to watch: Callum Hudson-Odoi looks to be finding his groove at Nottingham Forest with a goal in his last two league appearances – as many as he’d scored in his previous 43 matches in the competition. James Ward-Prowse’s brace of assists in the reverse 3-2 win started a run of West Ham United going undefeated in each of the last five league games (W3, D2) in which he registered a goal contribution (G3, A3).
Hot stat: Moyes has won a Premier League match at 37 different stadiums, another success here would draw him level on the fourth-most wins in the competition with José Mourinho (38).
