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Recommended bets
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Match preview
Is this West Ham United team too good to go down?
Well, that’s what they said about Glenn Roeder’s side back in 2002/03 and, spoiler alert, they were relegated.
Two decades on, the Hammers are not in good place again, kicking off in the relegation zone, having won just one of their last 11.
Last Sunday, David Moyes’ men put in a nothing performance, eventually swatted aside by their biggest rivals at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
So, having lost seven of 11 Premier League fixtures since 24 October, the Irons could actually be bang in trouble.
A month ago, West Ham welcomed a fellow-struggle to the London Stadium and, that day, beat Everton 2-0, thanks to Jarrod Bowen’s brace.
Nottingham Forest meanwhile held Manchester City to a shock 1-1 draw last weekend, equalising with their only shot on target, namely Chris Wood tapping home with eight minute to go.
Steve Cooper’s team are now unbeaten in eight at the City Ground, dating back to 16 September, form that means they start the weekend 13th.
On the road though, Forest have won just once all season, beating Nathan Jones’ Southampton in January, and come on, everybody beat Nathan Jones’ Southampton.
The Reds did win 1-0 when these two met in Nottingham in August, but haven’t done the league double over West Ham since 1983/84.
Will the Hammers be celebrating a vital victory at the London Stadium?
West Ham United team news
Lucas Paquetá is still sidelined due to a shoulder injury sustained against Chelsea, meaning Tomáš Souček will continue as Declan Rice’s midfield partner.
In attack, Gianluca Scamacca and Danny Ings were both on the bench against Spurs, both had been injured, so it’ll be interesting to see if either come in for Michail Antonio.
In-behind, Flynn Downes was handed a rare start in that match, but Saïd Benrahma is expected to return here.
In defence, there’s no Kurt Zouma, but Nayef Aguerd did, somewhat surprisingly, start last Sunday, despite hobbling off the week before.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Fabiański; Aguerd, Kehrer, Ogbonna; Coufal, Rice, Souček, Emerson; Bowen, Benrahma, Antonio.
Nottingham Forest team news
With Willy Boly and Scott McKenna both sidelined, Felipe will continue to partner Joe Worrall in defence.
Serge Aurier was taken off injured against Manchester City so, if he’s not ready to go, Neco Williams will come in.
Keylor Navas has been excellent for Forest, making ten saves, registering a post-shot xG figure of +0.6, which is very high, given that he’s only made three appearances so far.
In midfield, Jonjo Shelvey made his full-debut for the club a week ago, alongside Jack Colback, who started for the first time since the opening day.
Here though, Chris Wood will return to lead the line, with Morgan Gibbs-White and Brennan Johnson in support.
Taiwo Awoniyi, the match-winner when West Ham visited the City Ground, is still nursing a groin issue.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Navas; Aurier, Felipe, Worrall, Lodi; Danilo, Shelvey, Freuler; Gibbs-White, Johnson, Wood.
West Ham United vs Nottingham Forest: Head to head statistics
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Premier League table
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