Nottingham Forest enter this weekend’s fixture against West Ham United as a team in top form, with pundit Paul Merson offering his prediction on the outcome.
Under manager Nuno Espirito Santo, Forest have shown a knack for grinding out results with tactical discipline, and their recent performances have not gone unnoticed.
Nuno, despite missing several matches due to health reasons, has been nominated for the Premier League Manager of the Month award.
His absence hasn’t stopped Forest from securing vital wins against Crystal Palace and Leicester, as well as holding Chelsea to a draw.
This success has seen Forest edge closer to mid-table security, and with both Chris Wood and Matz Sels up for Player of the Month honours, the club’s turnaround has truly gathered momentum.
Next on Forest’s agenda is a challenging clash with West Ham United, who enter the match fresh off their role in Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag’s departure.
In a league where every game is crucial, Forest’s renewed vigour is exactly what they’ll need against David Moyes’ side.
Paul Merson’s Prediction for Nottingham Forest vs West Ham United:
Merson’s prediction comes with added intrigue, especially given his history with Forest. In his last forecast, he anticipated a draw between Leicester and Forest, only for Forest to pull off a 2-0 victory thanks to Chris Wood’s second-half brace, crushing Steve Cooper’s hopes of besting his former club.
Now, Julen Lopetegui’s West Ham arrive at the City Ground, setting up a fascinating contest between two former Wolves managers, Nuno and Lopetegui.
Merson, writing in his Sportskeeda column, has tipped Forest for a 2-1 victory, citing their momentum as the decisive factor.
“Nottingham Forest are flying at the moment, but they are a much better team away from home,” Merson noted.
“You’ve got to play West Ham at the right time if you need to win. They clicked the other day against Manchester United. You could say they were lucky, but they deserved to win in the end.”
He added, “If Forest win this game, they could move a lot closer to safety. They’re already on 16 points, and with how things have gone this season, 30 points might just be enough for teams to ensure they stay in the division. I have a feeling West Ham are still not firing on all cylinders at the moment, and that’s why I’m backing Forest to win the game.”
Key Roles of Taiwo Awoniyi and Chris Wood in Nottingham Forest’s Season:
Central to Forest’s resurgence has been the form of Chris Wood, who has quickly become the club’s top scorer with seven goals in nine matches.
Wood has excelled as Forest’s primary striker, consistently delivering when needed. However, Taiwo Awoniyi has struggled to replicate this impact, largely due to lingering injuries that have disrupted his season.
Former Forest midfielder Lewis McGugan believes there’s a silver lining, as Wood’s form allows Awoniyi the time to recover fully.
“With Wood in this kind of form, it eases the pressure on Awoniyi, giving him the chance to come back stronger,” McGugan observed.
The January transfer window looms, adding another layer of intrigue to Forest’s ambitions. While Wood’s performances have stabilised Forest’s frontline, questions remain about whether Nuno will seek further reinforcements.
Santiago Gimenez was a summer target, and Forest’s management may revisit their interest to bolster options as the season progresses.