Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Nott'm Forestvs.Fulham

sportsmole.co.uk, 26 September 2024, 11:38
Two teams enjoying admirable unbeaten runs in the Premier League go head-to-head at the City Ground on Saturday afternoon, as Nottingham Forest and Fulham pit their wits against one another.

The Tricky Trees have had a week to recover from a chaotic 2-2 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion, while the Cottagers ran out 3-1 victors over a lacklustre Newcastle United.

Match preview

South Coast chaos reigned supreme at the Amex Stadium last week, where Forest retained their unbeaten streak for the 2024-25 Premier League campaign courtesy of a four-goal stalemate, in which strikes from Chris Wood and Ramon Sosa arrived either side of Jack Hinshelwood and Danny Welbeck's efforts.

However, the on-field action paled into insignificance as tempers flared severely towards the end, where an apoplectic Morgan Gibbs-White took the walk of shame for two bookable offences, as did both managers in Nuno Espirito Santo and Fabian Hurzeler 10 minutes from time.

The upshot of last weekend's indiscretions is that Gibbs-White - the jewel in the Forest crown - will be suspended for the visit of the Cottagers, a damaging blow to the Tricky Trees' hopes of going six games without defeat at the start of the season for the first time in 10 years.

Not since the 2014-15 Championship campaign have Forest - who are flying high in eighth in the table - navigated each of their first six league games unbeaten, and they did not have any EFL Cup engagements to attend to in midweek thanks to their early elimination at the hands of Newcastle United.

The hosts have also found the back of the net in eight straight Premier League games since drawing a blank against Manchester City at the end of April, but none of their last five top-flight home matches have ended in victory, their longest winless Premier League run on familiar turf in the 21st century.

Four goals also flew into the back of the Craven Cottage nets last weekend, although three of them were for Marco Silva's rampant men, as Fulham dominated proceedings against Newcastle United on a day where Arsenal's Hale End academy was to thank once again.

Indeed, Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson - the former of whom was set up by Alex Iwobi - breached the Magpies' backline after Raul Jimenez's well-taken opener, as the Cottagers ensured that Harvey Barnes's effort would prove meaningless in the grand scheme.

Nullifying Newcastle was the required response to Fulham's excruciating exit from the EFL Cup, where Preston North End emerged victorious after the longest-ever penalty shootout in the tournament's history, with 34 spot kicks required to determine the fate of the Deepdale competitors.

Now fully focused on Premier League matters until the FA Cup rolls around, Silva's men find themselves just one place and one point worse off than Forest thanks to their own four-game unbeaten run, a streak in which they have both scored and conceded in every game.

However, Fulham's trip to the City Ground last year ended in a comprehensive 3-1 defeat, albeit only after they had demolished the Garibaldi 5-0 at Craven Cottage in December, a result that hammered another nail into Steve Cooper's coffin.

Nottingham Forest Premier League form:

Nottingham Forest form (all competitions):

D

W

L

D

W

D

Fulham Premier League form:

Fulham form (all competitions):

W

W

D

D

L

W

Team News

As mentioned, Forest must make do without star man Gibbs-White for at least one game - there are fears that his sentence could be extended to a two-match ban - and Santo is also waiting to learn whether a touchline suspension is coming his way after being hit with an FA charge for improper conduct.

Sosa has certainly put his name in the hat to replace Gibbs-White, but the Forest boss may play it safe and just introduce Ryan Yates back into the XI, as Elliot Anderson or James Ward-Prowse push higher up the field. Sosa could still threaten Anthony Elanga's position, though.

There has been no change to the Tricky Trees' injury situation, though, as Danilo (ankle), Ibrahim Sangare (hamstring) and Willy Boly (calf) remain out of contention, although the latter is nearing a return.

It is also as you were on the fitness front for Fulham, who only ought to be without calf victim Carlos Vinicius for the trip to Nottingham, but the attacker should return within the next fortnight.

Even with a near fully-fit squad at his disposal, Silva should have no reason to shuffle the pack barring a potential midfield swap; Sander Berge came on for Sasa Lukic at half time last weekend and is pushing for a starting berth.

Nelson memorably struck two goals versus Forest for Arsenal in 2022, but the Gunners loanee has never scored away from home in the top flight and should not displace Adama Traore in the first XI just yet.

Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:

Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Moreno; Yates, Ward-Prowse; Sosa, Anderson, Hudson-Odoi; Wood

Fulham possible starting lineup:

Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Pereira; Traore, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Jimenez

We say: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Fulham

So much of Forest's bright attacking play goes through Gibbs-White, whose absence ought to hit the hosts hard against a Fulham side boasting their own chief creator in Andreas Pereira, whose 66 chances fashioned for his teammates in 2024 is the second most in the Premier League behind Kevin De Bruyne.

Previews by email

Top News

21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell has reportedly caught the eye of Serie A clubs Juventus and Napoli. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid are reportedly interested in Manchester United midfielder Casemiro, with Los Blancos considering making an attempt to bring the Brazilian back to Bernabeu in January. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Pep Guardiola deciding to extend his stay at Manchester City could be good news for them in more than one sense. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo admitted there will be one key challenge to his son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, becoming a professional footballer. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Caoimhin Kelleher has the opportunity to become Chelsea's starting goalkeeper - he's too good to be Liverpool's back-up. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers could be without up to seven players for Saturday's Premier League clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Marco Silva will be working with almost a fully-fit squad when his Fulham side play host to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Al Ettifaq chiefs admitted they were left in shock when Jordan Henderson told them he wanted to leave just months into joining the Saudi Pro League club. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers will be looking to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone when they travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Valencia will play their first game since the devastating DANA storm struck the region when they welcome Real Betis to Mestalla for Saturday's La Liga contest. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides that were glad to see international football intervene will return from a much-needed break on Saturday, as Aston Villa and Crystal Palace meet at Villa Park. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk St Johnstone host Kilmarnock this weekend at McDiarmid Park, in a clash between two struggling Scottish Premiership sides. 21 November 2024 talksport.com It would take a lot to humiliate Cole Palmer on a football pitch, but he's revealed what would need to happen to do so. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Iago Aspas is once again expected to start, as Celta Vigo continue their 2024-25 La Liga campaign with a contest against division leaders Barcelona on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are set to again be without the services of a number of important players for Saturday's La Liga clash with Celta Vigo, including Lamine Yamal, with the Spaniard not yet recovering from an ankle problem. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams at opposite ends of the League One table meet on Saturday, as Burton Albion host Stockport County at the Pirelli Stadium. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo's YouTube video with Mr Beast hit one million views in just 30 minutes. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion, Ipswich Town and Southampton are all reportedly interested in signing Vasco da Gama youngster Rayan. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk La Liga leaders Barcelona will be bidding to bounce back from a surprise defeat before the November international break when they resume their league campaign away to Celta Vigo on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Arsenal need a figure up front like Alexander Isak to replace Kai Havertz. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Ruben Amorim will take charge of his first game as Manchester United manager this weekend as his side take on Ipswich. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly been handed a boost in their pursuit of PSV Eindhoven attacker Ricardo Pepi ahead of the January transfer window. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford duo Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa will be fit to start when the Bees travel to Goodison Park to face Everton in the Premier League on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Portsmouth return from the international break with a trip to Ewood Park for Saturday's Championship clash with Blackburn Rovers. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool and Newcastle United are reportedly set to battle for the signature of Brentford attacker Bryan Mbeumo. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly leading Real Madrid, Liverpool and Bayern Munich in the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Manchester United are three days away from seeing Ruben Amorim make his touchline debut for the club. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Liverpool will be aiming to maintain their place at the top of the Premier League table this weekend when they travel to face Southampton. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City will reportedly step up their efforts to tie one of their star players down to a new contract after persuading manager Pep Guardiola to stay at the club. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Neymar has admitted he contemplated retirement as he opened up on his injury hell.
Sat 23 Nov, 14:00
A
Verona Verona
-
sch
Inter Inter
Sat 23 Nov, 20:00
L1
Reims Reims
-
sch
Lyon Lyon