Despite their eventual 3-2 defeat, Nottingham Forest gave a good account of themselves against Brighton in their last assignment and the two consolation efforts they registered allowed the Tricky Trees to maintain their perfect strike-rate at home this season.

Forest have managed to rattle the net in each of their first six tests at the City Ground so far this term, though their return of just one clean sheet from that sequence shines an unflattering spotlight on some of the Reds’ defensive frailties.

The good news for bettors however, is that the City Ground has been a fertile hunting ground for both teams to score opportunities and both teams to score could land for the sixth time in seven matches at the venue when Everton visit the East Midlands.

The Toffees were unlucky to draw a blank against Man United last time out when they lodged an xG of 2.40 in a 3-0 defeat at Goodison Park, though the Merseysiders, who are consistent chance-creators under Sean Dyche, have been carrying more threat on the road this season and they have scored nine in their last five away fixtures alone, failing to score just once in that run – away to Liverpool when an early red card hampered them.

Everton also found the net twice when they last travelled south to play Forest in March in an end-to-end skirmish that eventually finished 2-2, and that was the second time in as many encounters between the clubs last term where both teams got on the scoresheet. A stake in the same direction is favoured when Everton and Forest renew acquaintances on Saturday.