ENGLISH PREMIER BETTING PREVIEW - NOTTINGHAM FOREST VS MANCHESTER UNITED

English Premier

2025-11-01 - Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United

A Sports Betting Preview by Auls

Nottingham Forest v Manchester United
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 1st November 2025 - Kick Off 3pm

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Nottingham Forest

Some of the decisions made by the officials frustrated Sean Dyche in the first Premier League game in charge of Nottingham Forest, but there will have been some positive elements to take away from the 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth last Sunday. His team looked much more secure defensively compared with how Nottingham Forest were performing under Ange Postecoglou, although the challenge for Sean Dyche is helping his new team find the balance between attack and defence that has been missing through the first three months of the season.

The defeat to Bournemouth has left Nottingham Forest in 18th place in the Premier League table with just 5 points secured this season and they are 3 points behind 17th place Fulham. Improving the form at the City Ground is going to be key to any push away from the relegation zone and Nottingham Forest have a 1-0-3 record here in the League having scored 3 goals and conceded 8.

Nottingham Forest did not win any of 8 games played under Ange Postecoglou in all competitions, but they did beat Porto in the Europa League in Sean Dyche's first game in charge before the defeat at the Vitality Stadium. That is the sole victory in 12 games in all competitions, while the team have lost 5 of the last 6 fixtures played. The Tricky Trees had lost 4 in a row at the City Ground in all competitions, but snapped that run in the win over Porto last time out here.

Oleksandr Zinchenko and Chris Wood are hoping to be available for selection this weekend.

Manchester United

The lack of consistency over the last twelve months has meant the pressure has been building and building on Ruben Amorim as manager of Manchester United. Some even suggested a couple of poor results at the end of October might have spelled the end of Amorim's tenure as manager, but co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe offered significant backing in the October international break.

It has also been clear that the players have far from downed tools and Manchester United have suddenly picked up a run of form that has not been seen since early 2024. The convincing win over Brighton last Saturday has pushed Manchester United up into 6th place in the Premier League table, but the key is improving the 1-1-2 away record where they have scored 4 goals, but conceded 8.

Manchester United have won 4 of the last 5 Premier League games played and that includes winning each of the last 3 fixtures against Sunderland, Liverpool and Brighton. Momentum is with the players and the confidence should be much improved, while the last time Manchester United won 4 Premier League games in a row included consecutive away victories at Aston Villa and Luton Town in February 2024.

Harry Maguire is hoping to return to the squad this weekend, while Lisandro Martinez is still building up his fitness and may not earn any minutes until after the November international break.

Head to Head

Nottingham Forest did the Premier League double over Manchester United last season.

They have won the last 2 home League games played against Manchester United, although sandwiched in between is a FA Cup defeat.

Nottingham Forest have lost 5 of the last 7 at home against Manchester United in all competitions.

Prediction

This is a big game for both Nottingham Forest and Manchester United and may just set the standard for the next few weeks.

Sean Dyche has overseen a win at the City Ground against Porto, but he will have learned how much hard work is still needed to turn things around for his new team. The 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth was perhaps harsh on Nottingham Forest, but they are being punished for any mistake made at the back, while Dyche's main task is finding a real balance between attack and defence.

Under the previous manager, Nottingham Forest had been a team that could create a lot of chances at home, but they were poor defensively and that saw the defeats pile up. However, it would be wrong to blame everything on Ange Postecoglou and should be noted that Nottingham Forest had not won any of 10 games in all competitions which included the last couple of games played under Nuno Espirito Santo.

Home form had been poor since the opening day with a heavy loss against West Ham United overseen by Espirito Santo and Nottingham Forest followed up with defeats to Sunderland, Midtjylland and Chelsea. Failure to score in the two home losses is a real concern, although Sean Dyche and the team will believe they can create chances against a Manchester United team struggling for clean sheets.

However, this is a confident Manchester United team heading to the East Midlands and we are going to learn a lot more about the manager and the players in the weeks ahead.

Ruben Amorim will feel the opening fixtures were tough, but his team have won 3 in a row in the Premier League and the next six weeks offers a chance for Manchester United to really build momentum. The next two away games look potentially awkward, but Manchester United have continued to create a lot of chances in fixtures with the new look front line gelling together and that makes them dangerous.

Manchester United have not won 4 Premier League games in a row since February 2024, and that was also the last time they won consecutive away League fixtures.

It does feel like the first goal is going to be important, but it should be noted that Manchester United have continued to create positive attacking numbers away from home. That is despite facing both Manchester City and Liverpool on the travels already and even the loss at Brentford does not look as poor as it felt when they visited the Gtech Community Stadium at the end of September.

The likelihood is that Manchester United will need at least two goals to earn the three points here, but they look capable going forward. If they can score first, the positive run is expected to continue for Ruben Amorim and his players and Nottingham Forest are still working on their own confidence levels, which leaves them vulnerable here.

Last season goalkeeping errors cost Manchester United against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford, while they created the clearer chances at the City Ground. Both ended in defeat, but this United squad looks capable of earning a victory here at odds against.

The Pick :

Nottingham Forest 1-2 Manchester United

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Manchester United to Win at 2.10 with BetFred