Cautious football could lead to a draw: Ipswich vs Nottingham Forest prediction
The eighth-round Premier League clash between Ipswich and Nottingham Forest will take place on October 23, 2026, at Portman Road. The hosts have collected nine points and sit 10th, while the visitors are 19th with five points. Despite the gap in the standings, both teams head into the match after respectable performances in defeats, so a tightly contested battle is expected.
Ipswich: a strong start after promotion
Gary O'Neil's side have won three of their first seven Premier League matches and collected nine points from four defeats. Ipswich have already scored 11 goals, although they have conceded 15. In their latest home match, the team beat Fulham 2-1 before losing 3-2 away to Manchester City, but they made a strong impression with their brave approach.
The coaching staff could well stick with the same starting XI that faced City. Zian Flemming scored after coming on as a substitute, but Emersson is likely to start in attack again. There is also a chance that Sasha Lukic could return, although the final decision on his involvement will be made closer to kick-off.
Nottingham Forest: losing streak and poor attacking output
Oliver Glasner's side have endured a disastrous start to the campaign, collecting just five points from seven rounds. Forest have one win, two draws and four defeats, with their last three matches all ending in losses. In the previous round, the team fell to a 1-0 defeat against Arsenal and remain one of the main early-season strugglers.
The visitors' main problem is their attack. Forest have scored just five goals, the lowest tally in the league, although they have conceded only nine. The team have looked better away from home than at their own stadium, while their last victory came back on September 12 against Aston Villa. Morgan Gibbs-White could return after a muscle problem, but Igor Jesus and Nicolo Savona will definitely miss out.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- At least 3 goals have been scored in each of Nottingham Forest's last 10 away Premier League matches
- Both teams have scored in 8 of Nottingham Forest's last 10 away Premier League matches
- Both teams have scored in 3 of Ipswich's last 4 home Premier League matches
- Forest are unbeaten in their last six meetings with Ipswich and have won five of them.
The visitors' low scoring output could shape the game: Ipswich vs Nottingham Forest prediction
Ipswich look livelier in attack and have made the more confident start to the season overall, but their defense continues to make regular mistakes. Forest, by contrast, create far fewer chances, but they are capable of making the match scrappy and holding onto a narrow scoreline for long stretches.
Given the current form of both teams, it is difficult to identify a clear favorite. The hosts can count on home advantage and greater attacking output, but the visitors' experience and more reliable defense should keep the contest balanced. Most likely, the teams will exchange goals and share the points.
