English Premier
2025-09-27 - Nottingham Forest vs Sunderland
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 27th September 2025 - Kick Off 5:30pm
This game is live on TV
Nottingham Forest
The television selections in the UK would have been made before Ange Postecoglou was appointed manager of Nottingham Forest, but it is a happy coincidence for the broadcasters that they will be in town for his first game at the City Ground. The new manager is also looking for his first win with Nottingham Forest after failing to hold onto yet another lead in the eventual 2-2 draw at Real Betis on Wednesday.
Ambitions are pretty big at the City Ground and Nuno Espirito Santo's performance in the 2024/25 season means the pressure is already going to be building on Ange Postecoglou. The Tricky Trees did earn a point last weekend, but that means they are 15th in the Premier League table and with just 5 points on the board. Home form was really important last season, but Nottingham Forest have a 1-0-1 record here early this time around.
Nottingham Forest have failed to win any of their last 6 games in all competitions since the opening weekend and the frustration is that they have led at Swansea City (0-2), Burnley (0-1) and Real Betis (1-2) and not been able to secure victory in any of those matches. All of those have been away from the City Ground and Nottingham Forest return here for the first time since Nuno Espirito Santo was Sacked and since the 0-3 home loss to West Ham United.
Chris Wood was surprisingly left out on Wednesday and his replacement Igor Jesus scored twice to push his credentials for a first Premier League start. Murillo is hoping to return from a knock, while centre back parter Nikola Milenkovic should also be available despite coming off late in the game in Spain on Wednesday. Douglas Luiz also had to come off, but he is more likely to miss out on Saturday.
Sunderland
You could potentially question some of the character and resolve of the newly promoted clubs from the Championship over the last couple of seasons and that may have contributed to feeble Relegations. None of that criticism could be levelled at Sunderland early in this campaign and Regis Le Bris should also be given a lot of credit for moulding the team together after the huge amount of incomings in the summer transfer window.
Despite being reduced to ten men in the first half last Sunday, Sunderland picked up another valuable Premier League point and now have 8 on the board this season. The Black Cats have been very strong at the Stadium of Light, but will travel to the East Midlands with a 0-1-1 away record and Sunderland are still searching for a first away goal.
Sunderland are unbeaten in 3 games in the Premier League since losing at Burnley and being beaten on Penalties in the League Cup Second Round. They should be given credit for battling away and earning a goalless draw at Crystal Palace earlier this month.
Reinildo was sent off last weekend and is suspended. Habib Diarra picked up an injury in training in the lead up to the draw with Aston Villa and is expected to miss at least two months.
Head to Head
These two clubs have not faced one another since the 2017/18 Championship season when both were able to secure 0-1 away wins over the other.
Sunderland have won on 5 of their last 6 visits to the City Ground, including the last 3 in a row.
Prediction
Tottenham Hotspur fans may be able to recognise this kind of statement.
Ange Postecoglou's team have created so many good chances in the last three games, but there is a vulnerability about them defensively which makes it feel like every attack is going to lead to goals being conceded.
In the last three games, Nottingham Forest have defended reasonably enough, but they have still managed to find a way to conceded six goals and that is really putting pressure on the team. They should have really put Swansea City and Real Betis to the sword, although it has become a regular occurrence when watching Postecoglou teams over the last couple of years that they are punished for some of the wastefulness.
Being back at home could help and Ange Postecoglou will be keen to make a positive start in front of the supporters who may still be reeling from Nuno Espirito Santo's departure. This is the first time Nottingham Forest are playing at the City Ground since then and Postecoglou will be keen to give the fans something positive to think about.
His team will create chances against Sunderland and Nottingham Forest should be in a position to earn the three points, even if they are travelling back from Spain. There are some decent options to rotate the squad around a little bit, and the majority of the attacking play should be produced by the home team.
It will be crucial to not only create chances, but to take them and there has to be a lot of respect for the resilience that Sunderland have shown through the first two months of the season.
Regis Le Bris' team do not create huge chances, but they have shown a clinical edge and also have players willing to throw bodies on the line to protect their own goal.
They earned a point at Crystal Palace earlier this month, but Sunderland were second best on the day and containing Nottingham Forest will be a tough task too.
As long as they are in the game, Sunderland will be dangerous and it should again be stated that they deserve a lot of respect, but Nottingham Forest have looked pretty sharp getting forward. If they can get in front, Ange Postecoglou's team should be able to cause problems on the counter and they may do just enough to edge to the three points and just ease any early pressure the new manager could be feeling.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Nottingham Forest 2-0 Sunderland
