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With both fighting for Premier League survival, hosts Ipswich Town will look to get the better of visitors Nottingham Forest on Friday at Portman Road.
Forest are in 19th place with just five points, whereas Ipswich are in 10th place with nine points, and given the result of Friday's clash could be key in the race to remain in the Premier League, make sure to check the Best football betting apps to sort through the odds.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Ipswich Town vs Nottingham Forest key stats
- Nottingham Forest have scored just one goal in their last three games.
- Ipswich have scored at least two goals in four of their five home matches this season.
- Fewer than three goals have been scored in five of Nottingham Forest's eight fixtures this season.
Ipswich Town vs Nottingham Forest preview: A key battle against relegation
Ipswich Town vs Nottingham Forest — Tale of the Tape
| Ipswich Town | vs | Nottingham Forest |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | Position | 19th |
| 9 | Points | 5 |
| 11 | Goals For | 5 |
| 15 | Goals Against | 9 |
| 0 | Clean Sheets | 1 |
| 8th | Home / Away Rank | 8th |
Ipswich were widely seen as one of the favourites for demotion, and while the season is still in its infancy, few expected the club to have nine points from their opening seven fixtures.
Wins against Fulham, Crystal Palace and Sunderland could be vital by the time the season concludes given all three of those opponents may be relegation rivals.
The hosts are winless against the visitors in their last six encounters, losing five times, with their most recent defeat a 4-2 loss in the Premier League in March 2025 at Portman Road.
While midfielder Sasa Lukic has made positive progress from a groin injury, his inclusion in the starting XI is still in doubt, though he may be afforded a place on the bench.
Nottingham Forest's season has so far been immensely disappointing, as while they are no strangers to relegation battles, fans' expectations were high following the appointment of Oliver Glasner.
The Austrian won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt, as well as the FA Cup and Conference League with Crystal Palace, so his failure to start well at the City Ground is concerning.
Forest come into Friday's match on the back of three consecutive defeats, including when they lost 1-0 against Arsenal on October 18.
There are some concerns about the fitness of Morgan Gibbs-White, but Glasner has indicated that he is hopeful that the attacker will overcome a muscle problem.
Ipswich Town vs Nottingham Forest form guide & betting tips
| Ipswich Town | vs | Nottingham Forest |
|---|---|---|
LWLWL |
Form | DWLLL |
| 6 | Points | 4 |
| 12th | Form Table | 17th |
| 7 | Goals For | 3 |
| 9 | Goals Against | 6 |
WLLWL |
Form (All Comps) | DWLLL |
Whispers predicts: Ipswich Town 2-0 Nottingham Forest
Though the bookmakers favour an away win at 6/5 (2.2), it could be worthwhile to back an Ipswich win at 9/4 (3.24).
Fewer than three goals have been scored in five of Nottingham Forest's eight fixtures this season, and that could make a prediction of Under 2.5 Goals at 11/10 (2.1) the way to go.
Ipswich have scored at least two goals in four of their five home fixtures this term, making a bet of Over 1.5 Goals for Ipswich at 6/4 (2.5) sensible.
Nottingham Forest have scored just one goal in their last three games, so it may make sense to predict Under 0.5 Goals for Nottingham Forest at 7/2 (4.5).
> Under 2.5 Goals at 11/10 (2.1) | Likelihood: High
> Over 1.5 Goals for Ipswich at 6/4 (2.5) | Likelihood: Medium
> Under 0.5 Goals for Nottingham Forest at 7/2 (4.5) | Likelihood: Low