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Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Prediction: Key Stats and Betting Tips

Nottingham Forest welcome Tottenham to the City Ground on 5 September 2026 in Premier League Regular Season – 3, with both sides desperate to kick-start their campaigns after slow starts. Forest have taken one point from their opening two matches and sit 15th, while Tottenham are bottom in 20th with no points and a worrying goal difference.

Early-season pressure is already building. Forest need to turn a solid away draw and a narrow home defeat into something more tangible in front of their own fans, while Tottenham must show that their attacking talent can finally click after failing to score in either of their first two games. Historical head-to-head trends at this venue and recent Premier League meetings add further intrigue, making this a key clash for anyone studying Premier League predictions, Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham odds, and betting tips for this weekend’s fixtures.

Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Key Stats

  • Nottingham Forest are 15th with 1 point from 2 matches (2 goals scored, 3 conceded), still searching for a first league win of the season.
  • Forest have dominated recent Premier League meetings, winning 3 of the last 4 league encounters since April 2024, including back-to-back 3-0 victories in 2025–2026.
  • Tottenham have yet to score in the 2026 Premier League campaign, with 0 goals for and 5 against across their first 2 fixtures, and no clean sheets for either side so far.

Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham — Tale of the Tape

  • Position: 15 vs 20
  • Points: 1 vs 0
  • Goals For: 2 vs 0
  • Goals Against: 3 vs 5
  • Clean Sheets: 0 vs 0

After two rounds, Nottingham Forest’s profile is that of a side still bedding in but at least finding the net. They have scored 2 goals in 2 matches (1.0 per game on average) and conceded 3 (1.5 per game). Their only home outing so far ended in a 0-1 defeat, but a 2-2 draw away hints at some attacking promise.

Tottenham’s early numbers are far more alarming. Two defeats from two, 0 goals scored and 5 conceded (2.5 per game) underline a side that has started poorly at both ends of the pitch. Their home loss was 0-2, followed by a 3-0 defeat away, and they have failed to score in both. With both teams yet to keep a clean sheet in 2026 Premier League action, this matchup could hinge on which defence stabilises first.

Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Key Matchups

M. Gibbs-White vs J. Maddison

Morgan Gibbs-White has been Forest’s standout creative force in the early weeks. In 2 appearances and 180 minutes, he has contributed 1 goal and 1 assist, directly involved in both of Forest’s league goals so far. His output is backed by 4 total shots (1 on target) and 59 passes with 83% accuracy, plus 1 key pass recorded. He also offers work rate and ball-carrying, with 8 dribble attempts and 4 successful, and has been heavily involved in duels (21 contested, 10 won).

For Tottenham, James Maddison is the natural creative reference point in midfield, even though we do not yet have specific 2026 statistical output in this dataset. The tactical battle will revolve around whether Maddison can find pockets between Forest’s lines in their 3-4-2-1 structure, while Gibbs-White operates as a key attacking midfielder for Forest. If Gibbs-White maintains his early productivity, Forest will have the edge in chance creation.

O. Aina vs Tottenham Wide Attack

Ola Aina has emerged as a key figure for Forest both defensively and in build-up. Across 2 appearances and 160 minutes, he has already collected 2 yellow cards, underlining his aggressive approach. He has contributed 58 passes (4 key passes) and attempted 7 dribbles with 4 successful, showing that he pushes forward from the back line.

Tottenham’s wide attackers — such as Richarlison, Sávio or Omar Marmoush — will test Aina’s discipline and positioning. Given Tottenham’s failure to score so far and Forest’s tendency to concede late (a significant share of goals against coming after the 46th minute), this flank duel could decide whether Spurs finally break their scoring drought or whether Aina’s assertive defending continues to frustrate them.

Head-to-Head: Last Meetings

Recent meetings between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham have swung back and forth, with notable Forest success in the last two Premier League clashes. The City Ground has hosted some tight contests, while London fixtures have often produced more open scorelines.

  • 22 March 2026: Tottenham 0-3 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
  • 14 December 2025: Nottingham Forest 3-0 Tottenham (Premier League)
  • 21 April 2025: Tottenham 1-2 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
  • 26 December 2024: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Tottenham (Premier League)
  • 7 April 2024: Tottenham 3-1 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)

Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Prediction

Stats suggest this is closer to a relegation six-pointer than a mid-table clash, even at this early stage. Forest have at least shown attacking threat, averaging 1 goal per game and converting a penalty, while Tottenham’s attack has been completely shut out in 180 minutes. Defensively, both are vulnerable, but Spurs’ 5 goals conceded at 2.5 per match is a clear concern.

The prediction model leans strongly towards Nottingham Forest avoiding defeat, with a 50% chance of a home win and 50% chance of a draw, and effectively no support for a Tottenham victory (0%). Comparison indices also favour Forest across form, attack and overall strength. H2H trends reinforce that edge: Forest have won three straight league meetings since April 2025 and have not conceded to Spurs in the last two.

With that in mind, Forest should be able to impose their 3-4-2-1 structure, using Gibbs-White between the lines and wing-backs like Aina to pin back Spurs’ full-backs. Tottenham’s best route into the game may be set pieces or transitional moments, but until they show signs of attacking cohesion, backing them outright is difficult. A tight, low-scoring contest where Forest edge it or settle for a draw looks the most plausible scenario.

Predicted Score: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Tottenham

Nottingham Forest Recent Form

Forest’s recent Premier League form reads as one draw and one loss from their opening two matches. They battled to a 2-2 draw away and suffered a 0-1 defeat at home, reflecting a side that can create but is still conceding at key moments. Their tournament statistics show no clean sheets yet and one match where they failed to score, but a balanced goals-for average of 1.0 per game suggests they are competitive.

Tottenham Recent Form

Tottenham’s recent form is poor, with two straight defeats to start the 2026 Premier League season. They have lost both home and away, conceding 2 and 3 goals respectively and failing to find the net in either game. Their attacking average of 0.0 goals per match and defensive average of 2.5 conceded underline why they sit 20th and why confidence is fragile heading into the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest Possible Starting Lineup

GK: M. Sels; Defenders: O. Aina, O. Diomande, N. Milenković, Morato, L. Netz; Midfielders: I. Sangaré, X. Schlager, N. Domínguez, M. Gibbs-White, C. Hudson-Odoi; Forwards: C. Wood, A. Kalimuendo, L. Delap, D. Ndoye, Igor Jesus, O. Hutchinson.

Forest have consistently used a 3-4-2-1 shape in their early fixtures, and the squad list supports that structure with a deep pool of centre-backs (Diomande, Milenković, Morato, Murillo) and wing-back options like Aina and Netz. Gibbs-White is the natural focal point in the advanced midfield role, while a rotation of forwards such as Wood, Kalimuendo, Delap and Ndoye can lead the line. With no confirmed injuries listed, Forest should be close to full strength and able to maintain an aggressive, front-foot approach at home.

Tottenham Possible Starting Lineup

GK: M. Dúbravka; Defenders: Pedro Porro, M. van de Ven, J. van Hecke, D. Udogie; Midfielders: R. Bentancur, P. Sarr, C. Gallagher, J. Maddison, X. Simons; Forwards: Richarlison, D. Solanke, Omar Marmoush, Sávio.

Tottenham’s preferred setup in early 2026 has been a 4-2-3-1, which fits the squad profile: full-backs Pedro Porro and Udogie providing width, ball-playing centre-backs like van de Ven and van Hecke, and a technically strong midfield unit with Bentancur, Sarr, Gallagher and Maddison. In attack, there is ample talent with Richarlison, Solanke, Marmoush and Sávio, plus depth from players like M. Kudus and M. Tel. The issue so far has been converting that quality into goals; expect Spurs to persist with the same structure but perhaps tweak personnel in search of more cutting edge.

Nottingham Forest Team News

No significant absences reported.

Tottenham Team News

No significant absences reported.

Injuries & Suspensions

Nottingham Forest:

  • None reported.

Tottenham:

  • None reported.

Betting Tips: Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham

Exactly 3 distinct tips from different markets:

  • Result Tip: Back Nottingham Forest Draw No Bet or Forest Double Chance. The prediction model gives Forest a 50% chance of winning and 50% for the draw, with 0% allocated to a Spurs victory. Forest have also won three straight league meetings against Tottenham. The 1x2 market shows home odds ranging from 2.34 to 2.62 (implied probability roughly 38.2% to 42.7%), draw from 3.06 to 3.50 (28.6% to 32.7%), and away from 2.65 to 2.88 (34.7% to 37.7%), indicating a very balanced market. Given Forest’s edge in recent H2H and current form, siding with the hosts on a safety-first angle looks justified.
  • Goals Tip: Under 2.5 goals. Forest average 1.0 goals scored and 1.5 conceded per game so far, while Tottenham have yet to score and concede 2.5 per match. Spurs’ lack of attacking output and Forest’s modest scoring rate suggest a cagey encounter, especially with both sides under pressure not to lose. Several bookmakers price the draw (often correlated with lower totals) around 3.06–3.50, reflecting the realistic chance of a tight scoreline such as 1-0 or 1-1.
  • Value Tip: Nottingham Forest to score first. Forest have scored in 1 of 2 matches and created enough to suggest they can breach a Tottenham defence that has already shipped 5 goals. Gibbs-White’s early form (1 goal, 1 assist, 4 shots) and Forest’s strong recent H2H record — scoring first in their last three league wins over Spurs — point towards the hosts making the early breakthrough. With home odds around 2.45–2.62 in the match winner market, any first-goalscorer or first-team-to-score angle on Forest is likely to offer attractive value relative to Tottenham’s current struggles.

Odds are accurate at the time of writing and subject to change. Please gamble responsibly.

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