Preview: Ipswich vs. Nottingham Forest · prediction, team news, line-ups

Ipswich Town host Nottingham Forest at Portman Road on Friday 23 October, with kick-off at 13:00 Mexico City time (8pm BST), in Matchweek 8 of the Premier League.

The Tractor Boys are 10th on 9 points from seven games, while the visitors sit 19th on 5 points.

Match preview

Ipswich have won three and lost four of their seven league games. They have scored 11 and conceded 15, a goal difference of -4 that still leaves them 10th.

At Portman Road, the Tractor Boys have won two and lost one from three, scoring four and conceding four. Racing Post notes that seven of their last eight home games have featured at least three goals.

Recent form is mixed. Ipswich lost 3-2 at Manchester City on 17 October, beat Fulham 2-1 on 10 October and lost 1-0 at Everton on 19 September. Before that, they won 3-2 at Crystal Palace on 12 September.

Away from home the numbers are tougher, with one win and three defeats, seven goals scored and 11 conceded. Zian Flemming scored off the bench against City for his second goal of the season. Ipswich also lost 4-2 to Arsenal in the League Cup on 15 September.

Nottingham Forest are 19th on 5 points, with one win, two draws and four defeats. They have scored five and conceded nine, giving them the same -4 goal difference as their hosts.

Forest have lost three league games in a row: 1-0 against Arsenal on 18 October, 3-1 at Crystal Palace on 11 October and 1-0 against Coventry on 19 September. Their last win was 2-1 at Aston Villa on 12 September.

At home, Forest have failed to score in four league games, drawing one and losing three while conceding three. On the road they have won one, drawn one and lost one, scoring five and conceding six.

Liam Delap has just one league goal for the club this season, according to Sports Mole, and he faces his former side. Racing Post points out that Forest have scored in every away game under Oliver Glasner.

Forest have won three and drawn two of the last five meetings, with Ipswich yet to win in that spell. The latest was a 4-2 away win for Forest at Portman Road on 15 March 2025, following a 1-1 FA Cup draw on 3 March and a 1-0 Forest win on 30 November 2024.

Ipswich hold a four-point advantage. Forest are in the relegation zone and need points to climb out of it.

Team news

Ipswich are hopeful of welcoming back Sasa Lukic, who missed the trip to Manchester City with a groin problem. Sports Mole says he is expected to be cleared, though a final decision had not been made. J. Taylor is listed as a doubt with a knee injury in our data.

Gary O'Neil could name the same side that faced City. Emersonn is expected to lead the line, with Flemming available off the bench.

Forest will be without Igor Jesus (calf) and Nicolo Savona (knee). Racing Post reports that Glasner has confirmed Morgan Gibbs-White and Nikola Milenkovic are ready to start. Daniel Munoz and Neco Williams are set to continue at wing-back.