League One's Exeter City welcome Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest in the final FA Cup fourth round game. Read on for our Exeter City vs Nottingham Forest predictions and more.
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Exeter City vs Nottingham Forest prediction: Can Exeter stop all-conquering Forest?
Key facts:
- Exeter are winless since their 3-1 third round win against Oxford last month.
- They have not kept a clean sheet since 30 November.
- Nottingham Forest have won nine of their last 11 matches.
Correct score prediction: Exeter City 0-3 Nottingham Forest
As much as we'd love to predict a classic giant killing, we can't see anything other than a comfortable Forest win.
The Premier League side are in their best form for decades, and Exeter are without a win in five, or a clean sheet in 15.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Forest favourites
HOME: 9/1 (10.00) – 10.0%
DRAW: 5/1 (6.00) – 16.7%
AWAY: 1/4 (1.25) – 80.0%
*Odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
The bookmakers' expected winner is Nottingham Forest. Their odds of 1/4 imply an 80% likelihood of victory. Given the gulf in quality between the two sides, we agree.
Feel free to take a look at our football betting tips page to check out our other predictions and tips!
Recent H2Hs: A long time coming
This Tuesday evening tie will mark the first meeting between Forest and Exeter since 1951, when both sides were in the old third division.
In their four meetings last century, Forest won two and drew two.
Exeter City preview: An uphill task
Perhaps other than the all-conquering peak of the Brian Clough era, Exeter could not have picked a worse time to play Forest.
The Grecians are in not in great shape themselves, with no wins in five, and on the end of a 4-1 hammering at Stevenage last weekend.
Predicted lineup: Mahoney (GK), Freeman, Sweeney, Piergianni, Freestone, Phillips, King, Roberts, Kemp, Reid, Appere
England League 1 12/04/25
W
Bristol Rovers
1
Exeter
2
England League 1 08/04/25
D
Wigan
1
Exeter
1
England League 1 05/04/25
L
Stockport
2
Exeter
0
England League 1 01/04/25
W
Barnsley
1
Exeter
2
England League 1 29/03/25
L
Wrexham
2
Exeter
0
Nottingham Forest preview: Opportunities abound
What a season it is for Nottingham Forest. Not only are Nuno Espirito Santo's side flying in the Premier League, with a 7-0 win over Brighton last weekend, but they have a real chance to go on a cup run too.
Forest saw off Luton Town in a comfortable 2-0 win in the third round, with a heavily rotated side. We expect a similar approach and result in this game too.
Predicted lineup: Miguel (GK), Toffolo, Boly, Morato, Moreno, da Silva Moreiro, Danilo, Silva, Yates, Sosa, Awoniyi
England Premier League 12/04/25
L
Everton
1
Nottm Forest
0
England Premier League 05/04/25
L
Aston Villa
2
Nottm Forest
1
England Premier League 01/04/25
W
Man Utd
0
Nottm Forest
1
England FA Cup 29/03/25
W
Brighton
0 (3)
Nottm Forest
0 (4)
England Premier League 15/03/25
W
Ipswich
2
Nottm Forest
4
Player to watch: Taiwo Awoniyi
Although Chris Wood has naturally grabbed the limelight this season, Nottingham Forest are blessed with another excellent striker in Taiwo Awoniyi.
The Nigerian averages a goal every 179 minutes across his Forest career, an impressive ratio given they have fought relegation in all but one of his three seasons at The City Ground.
Awoniyi, 27, will get a rare opportunity to lead the line in this one, and we back him to make an impact.