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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 a Premier League clash that already feels important near the bottom of the table. With Forest on one point from two matches and Spurs bottom with no points and no goals scored, both sides are under pressure to respond early in the campaign.

The City Ground has been a difficult venue for Tottenham in recent seasons, and Forest will look to extend that trend as they aim to pull clear of the early relegation picture. Spurs, meanwhile, arrive with a worrying goal drought and a defence that has shipped five goals in two outings, knowing another defeat would deepen concerns about their direction this season.

From a betting and prediction standpoint, this Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham matchup is finely balanced. Market odds suggest near-parity between home and away, while recent head-to-head results and current form tilt slightly towards Forest. That blend of historical dominance at home and Tottenham’s early struggles makes this one of the more intriguing Premier League fixtures of the weekend.

Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Key Stats

  • Nottingham Forest sit 15th with 1 point from 2 matches, scoring 2 and conceding 3 in the Premier League standings.
  • Forest have won their last four Premier League meetings against Tottenham (from April 2024 to March 2026), scoring 9 and conceding 1 across those games.
  • Tottenham have failed to score in both league matches this season and have conceded an average of 2.5 goals per game in their 2026 Premier League 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

Two games into the new Premier League campaign, Nottingham Forest have at least put a point on the board. They have drawn one and lost one, with a goal difference of -1. Their two goals scored and three conceded reflect a side that has been competitive but not yet convincing, particularly at home where they have lost their only match 0-1.

Tottenham’s situation is more alarming. Bottom of the table in 20th place, they have lost both of their opening fixtures, scoring 0 and conceding 5. The away record so far is one defeat with a 3-0 scoreline, underlining both an attacking malaise and defensive vulnerability. With both teams yet to keep a clean sheet this season, the defensive fragility on each side adds another layer of tension to this encounter.

Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Key Matchups

M. Gibbs-White vs J. Maddison

Morgan Gibbs-White has been Forest’s standout creative force in the early weeks. In two Premier League appearances he has played every minute (180), scoring 1 goal and providing 1 assist. His attacking output is backed by 4 shots (1 on target) and 59 completed passes with 83% accuracy, plus a key pass and 8 dribble attempts with a 50% success rate. He is clearly central to Forest’s chance creation and final-third threat.

For Tottenham, James Maddison is the natural creative reference point in midfield. While individual 2026 stats for Maddison are not detailed here, his presence as a senior playmaker is crucial for a Spurs side yet to score this season. The tactical battle between Gibbs-White, operating between the lines for Forest, and Maddison trying to dictate tempo and provide service to Spurs’ forwards, could decide which side generates the better quality chances.

O. Aina vs Richarlison

Ola Aina has been heavily involved for Forest, starting both matches and logging 160 minutes. Primarily a defender, he has contributed 58 passes and 4 key passes, along with 7 dribble attempts (4 successful) and 2 tackles. However, he has also picked up 2 yellow cards, underlining his aggressive approach in duels (20 contested, 10 won). His ability to defend one-vs-one while still offering width and progression will be vital against Tottenham’s attacking line.

Richarlison, leading the line for Tottenham, is under pressure to end the team’s goal drought. While current-season goal stats are not provided here, his reputation as a direct, combative forward means he will constantly test Aina’s discipline and positioning. Given Aina’s card history already this season, this flank battle could influence both the flow of the game and the card markets.

Head-to-Head: Last Meetings

Recent meetings between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham have been surprisingly tilted towards the East Midlands side, particularly over the last two seasons. The fixtures have often been open, with goals at both ends in several clashes.

  • 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 will be a tight, nervy contest. Forest come in with slightly better early-season form and a strong recent head-to-head record, especially at the City Ground. Their 3-4-2-1 structure, used in both league matches, has provided balance: they average 1.0 goal scored and 1.5 conceded per game, with most of their attacking threat coming in the 16–30 and 61–75 minute windows.

Tottenham, by contrast, have been blunt in attack and porous at the back. They have yet to score in 180 minutes of league football and concede on average 2.5 goals per game, with goals against spread across all phases of the match. Their 4-2-3-1 setup has not yet produced a coherent pressing or possession game, and confidence appears fragile.

The prediction model gives Nottingham Forest a 50% chance of victory, with a 50% chance of the draw and effectively no backing for a Tottenham win (0%). That aligns with Forest’s four straight league wins over Spurs since April 2024 and the visitors’ current slump. However, the betting markets are more cautious, pricing Forest and Spurs at broadly similar odds, which hints at the underlying quality Tottenham still possess.

Predicted Score: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Tottenham

Nottingham Forest Recent Form

Forest’s recent form in the Premier League can be described as mixed. They have taken one point from two matches, with one draw and one defeat. Away from home they have shown some attacking promise with 2 goals scored in one game, but at the City Ground they have yet to find the net this season and lost their only home fixture 0-1. Defensively, conceding three goals in two matches indicates room for improvement, though they have largely stayed competitive in both outings.

Tottenham Recent Form

Tottenham’s recent form is poor. Two straight defeats in the Premier League, with 0 goals scored and 5 conceded, leave them bottom of the table. They have lost both at home and away, including a 3-0 defeat on their travels. The team has failed to score in either match, and the defence has been breached in every phase of games, with a notable vulnerability between the 61st and 75th minutes where a significant share of goals conceded has occurred.

Nottingham Forest Possible Starting Lineup

Likely key players (not a confirmed XI): GK M. Sels; Defenders O. Aina, N. Milenković, Morato, Murillo, L. Netz, N. Williams; Midfielders N. Domínguez, I. Sangaré, X. Schlager, R. Yates, M. Gibbs-White, C. Hudson-Odoi, J. McAtee; Forwards C. Wood, L. Delap, A. Kalimuendo, D. Ndoye, Igor Jesus, O. Hutchinson.

Forest have consistently used a 3-4-2-1 structure this season, which suits their blend of athletic defenders and creative attacking midfielders. Gibbs-White is central as the main creator and scorer, while Aina and the wing-backs provide width. With no clean sheets yet and one failure to score, the emphasis will be on tightening up late in games, where they have conceded a significant share of goals, while trusting their creative core to unlock a shaky Spurs back line.

Tottenham Possible Starting Lineup

Likely key players (not a confirmed XI): GK M. Dúbravka; Defenders M. van de Ven, J. van Hecke, K. Danso, D. Udogie, B. Davies; Midfielders R. Bentancur, C. Gallagher, P. Sarr, X. Simons, S. Tonali, J. Maddison, M. Kudus, Mateus Fernandes; Forwards Richarlison, D. Solanke, Omar Marmoush, Sávio, D. Scarlett.

Tottenham have lined up in a 4-2-3-1 across their two league games, but the structure has yet to deliver balance. With no goals scored and two failures to find the net, the attacking midfield line behind the striker must step up. The squad list suggests ample creative and attacking talent, yet defensive cohesion remains a concern, with no clean sheets and heavy defeats both home and away.

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. The prediction model gives Forest a 50% chance of winning and 50% for the draw, with virtually no support for a Tottenham victory. Forest also have four straight league wins over Spurs since April 2024 and are unbeaten in the last three head-to-heads at the City Ground. Market odds on the home win range from 2.34 to 2.62, implying roughly a 38.2% to 42.7% chance, which is lower than the model’s 50% estimate and suggests some value in siding with Forest with draw protection.
  • Goals Tip: Under 2.5 goals. Forest average 1.0 goal scored and 1.5 conceded per league game so far, while Tottenham average 0.0 scored and 2.5 conceded. Spurs have yet to score this season, and Forest have failed to score in their only home match. Several recent head-to-heads have been tighter at the City Ground (1-0, 3-0, 2-0 in cups and league), pointing towards a controlled home performance rather than a shootout. Use the main goals market from your bookmaker of choice at the prevailing under 2.5 price.
  • Value Tip: Ola Aina to be booked. Aina has already received 2 yellow cards in 2 league appearances, reflecting his combative style (20 duels, 10 won, plus 3 fouls committed). Up against direct runners and a physical Spurs frontline, he is likely to be heavily involved defensively again. Card markets often underrate full-backs and wing-backs, so any competitive price on Aina to receive a card could represent value.

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

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