Will Nottingham Forest extend their dominance over Tottenham? Prediction for the Nottingham vs Tottenham Matchday 3 game
On Saturday, 5 September 2026, at 17:00 Kyiv time (15:00 BST), the City Ground will host matchday 3 action in the English Premier League 2026/27 season, as Nottingham Forest take on Tottenham Hotspur.
Both sides have endured a sluggish start to the campaign, finding themselves languishing in the lower reaches of the table and turning this encounter into an uncompromising battle for vital points.
Recent head-to-head encounters have been entirely one-sided in favour of Forest: Nottingham Forest have won their last four competitive Premier League meetings against Tottenham. Last season, Forest completed a resounding double over Spurs with a pair of 3–0 shutouts — first in December at the City Ground, followed by an identical 3–0 victory in London in March 2026.
Nottingham Forest
Forest have faced an arduous opening schedule against top-flight front-runners, yet they consistently play with immense confidence against Spurs. Nuno Espírito Santo's men deploy a compact low block with explosive transitional pace: Morgan Gibbs-White pulls the strings from deep, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Omari Hutchinson inject direct threat out wide, while Igor Jesus and Taiwo Awoniyi provide a relentless physical presence through the middle.
At the City Ground, Forest contest every duel with ferocious intensity, looking to unsettle a fragile London backline under sustained pressure.
Tottenham
Spurs have endured a miserable start to the season, sinking towards the foot of the table after the opening rounds. The team continue to struggle with a glaring imbalance between their expansive approach with a high defensive line and persistent vulnerability to opposition counter-attacks.
The visitors still possess an enviable cast of attacking talent, featuring Omar Marmoush, Mathys Tel, Sávio, Mateus Fernandes, and Mykhailo Mudryk. Tottenham's primary objective on their travels will be snuffing out Forest's direct balls over the top while displaying clinical composure inside the penalty box.
Predicted Line-ups
- Nottingham Forest: Sels – Jair, Milenković, Murillo – Aina, Sangaré, McAtee, Williams – Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Jesus
- Tottenham: Kinský – Porro, van Hecke, van de Ven, Udogie – Tonali, Bentancur, Fernandes – Sávio, Tel, Marmoush.
Prediction
Both sides have shown obvious defensive frailties in the opening weeks of the season, yet each boasts high-calibre attacking personnel. The game is bound to open up once the deadlock is broken. My prediction: Over 2.5 total goals.
