Nottingham Forest play Burnley at the City Ground on Monday night, with Steve Cooper's side looking to build on their impressive 1-0 win at Chelsea in the Premier League last weekend.
Meanwhile, the visitors are finding life back in the big time tough, with no points from their opening three games.
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Nottingham Forest vs Burnley H2H Record
Both teams have met each other a total of 109 times in all competitions, with Burnley just coming out on top:
- Forest wins: 37
- Draws: 29
- Burnley wins: 43
This is a traditional fixture that dates back over a century, with their first meeting coming in the 1892/93 season and ending a 1-1 draw. However, this will be the first time in over 50 years that both teams face off in the top division, as Forest's promotion in the 2021/22 campaign came just a week after Burnley were relegated to the Championship, with the Clarets bouncing straight back up to join the Tricky Trees mere months ago.
Last time out…
Incidentally, Forest and Burnley have already played each other this term, facing off in the Carabao Cup second round, where Vincent Kompany's side won 1-0 at the City Ground.
It was a dramatic 90th-minute winner from Zeki Amdouni that sealed victory for the visitors, and it remains their only match this season which has not ended in defeat.
Nottingham Forest vs Burnley H2H: Potential MVP
Taiwo Awoniyi has contributed in every league game for Forest this campaign, scoring in each of his first three matches before assisting Anthony Elanga to score against Chelsea on matchday four.
In his debut season with the Reds, the striker managed 10 goals in the top flight, which was key to keeping them up, and with Brennan Johnson joining Tottenham Hotspur on Transfer Deadline Day, more responsibility has been put on his shoulders.
Awoniyi's hot streak stretches to the back end of last term, where he managed six goals in the final four Premier League matchdays, and the Nigerian has continued his fine form into the new season.
Having originally joined for a club-record £17m fee, before it was gazumped by Morgan Gibbs-White's £42m price tag, a lot of expectation was put on Awoniyi, and the 26-year-old is certainly living up to that now.
Nottingham Forest: Players in focus
Ibrahim Sangare – The £30m man
Forest made seven signings on Deadline Day, and Sangare was the most expensive and exciting at £30m, arriving from UEFA Champions League participants PSV.
Callum Hudson-Odoi – A point to prove
Hudson-Odoi could also make his debut, and has a point to prove after Chelsea let him go for just £5m, having rejected a big-money offer from Bayern Munich just a few seasons ago.
Divock Origi – Back in the Prem
Origi is back in the Premier League after arriving on loan from AC Milan, and could form a deadly new striker partnership with Awoniyi.
Burnley: Players in focus
Nathan Redmond – The know-how
Redmond was another new arrival at Turf Moor, and offers top-flight experience that Trafford and others in the squad don't. The 29-year-old could be a key player on and off the pitch as the Clarets seek their first points of the campaign.
Lyle Foster – Mr. Reliable?
Burnley have only managed three strikes so far this term, and Foster has two of them. The frontman may have to be relied upon to get the goals needed to keep them in the division.
James Trafford – England's future no.1?
After saving a penalty in the final and keeping a record six clean sheets in England U21's Euros triumph this summer, Trafford (pictured below) arrived at Burnley with a big reputation, and will be hoping to record his first Premier League shutout at Forest.
Final prediction
Given Forest's excellent home record in the Premier League, where they picked up 30 points in the previous campaign compared to a league-worst eight away, expect another home win here.
Burnley have struggled to adapt to the top flight so far, and look toothless in front of goal, while Forest have scored six in the league, with Awoniyi grabbing half of them. Expect him to get on the scoresheet once more.
We're saying 2-0 to Forest with Awoniyi to score anytime.
