Kick-off: 1500, 11/02/2023
Stadium: Craven Cottage
Fulham and Nottingham Forest were both promoted from the Championship last season and are well on course for survival ahead of their meeting at Craven Cottage.
Fulham are dreaming of a top-six finish and are eight points better off than Forest, who have climbed to 13th in the table after a five-match unbeaten run.
They rely largely on their form at the City Ground for points though and a home win at 93/100 is our opening Fulham vs Nottingham Forest prediction.
Fulham Odds
Fulham have become something of a yo-yo club in recent years after struggling to make the step up from the second tier but are enjoying a dream season this time around.
A top-half finish is a realistic prospect, while they are through to the fifth round of the FA Cup after Wednesday’s 3-2 win in a replay at Sunderland.
Asked to assess the campaign to date, boss Marco Silva said: “Of course we are really pleased with it. The players have been brilliant this season so far – and I have to say last season too.
“This kind of mentality, we have to keep creating inside the dressing room, the players have to have the right mindset as well.
“It’s not something that comes so easily and this season has been very good work from all the players, and I have to congratulate them.
“Of course, we are pleased with the season so far, but again, we haven’t achieved anything yet. We want more. We are a really ambitious club and a group of players and we want more.”
Fulham’s midweek win should not have too much bearing on this game given they made nine changes to the side which started last weekend’s goalless draw at Chelsea.
The cup replay was the fourth time this season that Fulham have won 3-2 in all competitions.
Eight matches have ended with that scoreline in the Premier League this season and the Cottagers have triumphed in three of them, including the reverse fixture in Nottingham in September.
A repeat of that score is 22/1 in the Fulham vs Nottingham Forest odds, or a home win and both teams to score is a safer option at 29/10.
Last Fulham EPL line-up: Leno, Tete, Ream, Diop, Robinson, Reed, Decordova-Reid, Pereira, Willian, Palhinha, Mitrovic.
Fulham captain Tom Cairney will miss out because of an ankle, but fellow midfielder Harrison Reed (knee) should be available.
Full-back Cedric Soares and midfielder Sasa Lukic are both in line to make their debuts following their deadline-day arrivals. Midfielder Neeskens Kebano (Achilles) continues his rehabilitation.
Nottingham Forest Odds
Forest have now broken Portsmouth’s 17-year record of most debutants in a Premier League season but their influx of signings are doing the job so far.
A total of 22 players have made their league debuts for the club so far in 2022-23, including 17 summer signings and five winter arrivals.
Forest went past Portsmouth’s mark of 21 debuts in a single campaign during Sunday’s match against Leeds, following a first start for former Real Madrid and PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas and a late cameo for new signing Andre Ayew.
Navas played his part with a clean sheet, helping Forest to a 1-0 win which lifted them six points clear of the relegation zone.
It was a player who played a big role in their promotion campaign who grabbed the winner though, with Brennan Johnson firing in from the edge of the area.
Johnson has been an integral part of Forest’s fine start to 2023, where they have picked up 11 points from five games, with the Welshman scoring three goals and bagging two assists.
It took the 21-year-old a while to find his feet this season, but boss Steve Cooper is delighted with how he is flourishing.
“We’re really happy seeing Brennan feel like he belongs at the level and that he can make a difference,” Cooper said.
“He scored a load of goals last year. He was getting more chances than what he’ll get this year, but at the moment he’s taking his opportunities. That’s what players who play in that position and end up doing well in this league do.”
Johnson has scored three of Forest’s last four goals so 16/5 for him to net his team’s first goal here completes our Fulham vs Nottingham Forest betting tips.
Last Forest line-up: Hennessey, Williams, McKenna, Boly, Lodi, Mangala, Johnson, Freuler, Dennis, Scarpa, Surridge.
New midfielder Jonjo Shelvey could be involved for the first time. Ryan Yates (illness) and Moussa Niakhate (hamstring) are improving but Dean Henderson (thigh), Taiwo Awoniyi (groin), Cheikhou Kouyate (hamstring) and Omar Richards (leg) are all still missing.
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