Match Preview Nottingham Forest vs. West Ham United
Nottingham Forest will be awaiting West Ham United in a highly anticipated Premier League match at the City Ground on Saturday, 17th February 2024, at 3 pm GMT. Kick-off
It is imperative for West Ham to swiftly bounce back as they make their way to Nottingham Forest this Saturday.
The Hammers, managed by David Moyes, head into the contest after dealing with back-to-back heavy Premier League losses. However, they're still in contention for European qualification, currently sitting in 8th place in the league. After witnessing his team suffer a devastating 6-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal on their home turf, David Moyes found himself once again facing scrutiny regarding his managerial position. The pressure would only mount if we were to lose to Forest, who have had difficulty turning the City Ground into a stronghold this season.
The Forest team will be fueled by a strong desire for revenge, as they suffered a 3-2 defeat in their previous match against London Stadium in November. Goals from Lucas Paquetá, Jarrod Bowen, and Tomáš Souček sealed their fate. Additionally, Forest are in desperate need of points, having lost three out of their last four games.
Nuno Espírito Santo took over as the club's manager in December, following Steve Cooper's tenure in charge. However, he has yet to experience league success since earning two draws in his first three games in charge before the start of the new year.
Match Details
Nottingham Forest vs. West Ham United,
City Ground, Saturday 17th February 2024, 3 PM GMT
Previous meetings
Saturday's match represents the 120th encounter between West Ham and Nottingham Forest, with a minimal 12 of those taking place in the respected Premier League.
In terms of head-to-head statistics, the Hammers have a slight advantage, with 48 wins under their belt. The teams have had 26 draws, with Forest winning 45 times. In the previous two meetings, West Ham came out winners, with an exciting 3-2 win at London Stadium earlier this season and a dominant 4-0 win in February 2023.
Injury News
David Moyes is assessing the conditions of Lucas Paquetá and Michail Antonio, who have been absent due to injuries since the beginning of 2024.
In 2023/24, Paquetá, the talented Brazil international, has found the back of the net five times in 27 appearances across all competitions. Unfortunately, in his last appearance, a 1-1 FA Cup draw against Bristol City, he had to leave the pitch due to an injury. Paqueta is not expected to return against Forest.
On the other hand, Antonio has been absent from top-flight action since the match against Nottingham Forest back in November 2023 but is expected to make his lengthy return this weekend to Premier League action.
Chris Wood, the leading goal scorer for Forest, is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury. Meanwhile, there is uncertainty surrounding the availability of Gonzalo Montiel, the Argentina international, who missed the previous match against Newcastle due to another injury.
Ibrahim Sangaré, Ola Aina, and Willy Boly all played significant roles in the closing stages of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which concluded on Sunday, and are widely believed to make their returns to the Forest squad for the game on Saturday.
Opponent Analysis
Nottingham Forest find themselves in a precarious position, sitting just two points away from the Premier League drop zone. With three defeats in their last four games after experiencing a triumphant comeback last season, following more than two decades of struggle, everyone involved with Forest will be determined to secure their position in the league as we approach the crucial stage of this season.
Nottingham Forest FC are widely regarded as one of the most esteemed football clubs in England. They have an impressive track record, including two European Cup successes, a European Super Cup victory, a First Division title, and four EFL Cup championships. All of these achievements were achieved during Brian Clough's remarkable 18-year tenure as manager, from 1975 to 1993.
Although the Tricky Trees have experienced success in the past by winning the FA Cup twice in 1898 and 1959, their recent history has been filled with attempts to recapture their former glory. Unfortunately, they have faced multiple relegations from the Premier League within a span of seven years. As a result, they found themselves competing in the EFL Championship and League One for a lengthy period of 23 years.
The curse was finally lifted by Steve Cooper at the end of the 2021/22 campaign. The Welshman took over from Chris Hughton in September and led the team to a remarkable fourth-place finish. The season culminated in an exciting victory over Huddersfield Town in the play-off final.
Forest executed a daring transfer strategy upon their successful return, acquiring the services of 32 new players last season through permanent deals. Steve Cooper skillfully united the team, resulting in a notable 16th-place finish and securing their survival.
After a challenging interval, Cooper was eventually replaced by Nuno Espírito Santo in December 2023. The Portuguese manager had a promising start, securing two victories in his first three matches, however, a challenging run of form has since left them in uncertain circumstances.
In addition to their league matches, Nottingham Forest are still in contention for this year's FA Cup. Their next match in the fifth round will be at home against Manchester United. However, Burnley eliminated them from the EFL Cup in the second round.
In August 2022, Nottingham Forest's promotion season, Cheikhou Kouyaté, who previously played for Crystal Palace and West Ham United, made the move to the City Ground. Since then, he has made a mere 12 appearances in all competitions this season. Michail Antonio, who currently wears the No. 9 jersey for West Ham, had a successful stint at Forest between 2014-15, registering 19 goals in 54 games.
Match tickets
The club's allotted 2,893 tickets have all sold out. The initial 90 percent of tickets were quickly snapped up by bondholders and season ticketholders with 34+ loyalty points. The remaining ten percent (289 tickets) were then made available through a ballot process to season ticket holders.
TV Coverage
Unfortunately, the game on Saturday will not be broadcasted live in the UK. Nevertheless, supporters from all corners of the globe will have the opportunity to witness the game via the Premier League's recognised international broadcast partners. BBC One's Match of the Day, on the other hand, will showcase the highlights during its airing at 10.30 PM. on Saturday.
Match Preview: Nottingham Forest vs. West Ham United