It could be argued Nottingham Forest disappointed in their first match back in the premier league but will know that with a bouncing home crowd they can make up for last week’s result. West Ham lost 2-0 to Manchester City without playing particularly badly but know their season starts properly now. Both Moyes and Cooper will want good performance from their team to set a standard for the season to come.
Nottingham Forest v West Ham Bet Builder Tips
Both Teams to Score
West Ham know how to play defensive football that is effective against top 6 sides, but it is against teams below them in the league in which they need to improve their performances. In their last 10 matches against teams outside the top six, both teams scored in 7 of them. They brought in Aguerd at centre back to help with these defensive issues but he is currently injured. West Ham are severely lacking at centre back right now with Craig Dawson also out injured as well as Angelo Ogbonna lacking match fitness so Ben Johnson may be needed at centre back again. Nottingham Forest also showed defensive weakness, with a lot of new signings that have not fully gelled yet as a team. Nottingham Forest were dominated by Newcastle losing 3.02-0.52 on xG while giving up 23 shots and 10 on target. They left huge gaps down the middle and looked weak from crosses which, against a team like West Ham, will see them concede chances and probably goals.
Neither team is at their strongest defensively and both teams are still at full attacking strength. The effect of the atmosphere at the City Ground for Nottingham Forest’s first home game back in the prem cannot be underestimated and this will give them the performance boost needed to score in this match, therefore I believe we will see both teams score.
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Prediction: Both Teams to Score
Michail Antonio or Gianluca Scamacca 1+ Shots on Target
One of the big questions for West Ham fans is whether Michail Antonio will be started again or whether Gianluca Scamacca will be given his first start at the new club. Scamacca came on against Manchester City and made a difference showing a presence up top that may see him preferred to start this game. Scamacca and Antonio are similar strikers, however Scamacca provides more of a threat in the air whereas Antonio is better dribbling with the ball. These are both areas that Forest were weak in against Newcastle in the opening game.
If Antonio starts he will be strong dribbling through the middle, he was in the top 11% for shot creating dribbles out of all strikers in the top 5 European Leagues last season. Nottingham Forest allowed so many chances through this middle area of the pitch that if Antonio does start he will get plenty of chances for a shot on target from this area. If Scamacca starts, expect West Ham to be more focussed on crosses into the box. Scamacca is brilliant in the air, in the top 4% of strikers for aerial duel win % last season in Europe’s top five leagues and this could be a key attribute against Nottingham Forest. Of the 14 key passes Newcastle managed against Nottingham Forest, 11 of them were from positions out wide into the centre. Newcastle’s second goal was also from a cross and this is a weak spot for them defensively.
Whichever striker Moyes goes with will have all the attributes necessary to get shots on target so I would back whichever striker is chosen to start for 1 shot on target.
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Prediction: Michail Antonio 1+ SOT @ 1.3 or Gianluca Scamacca 1+ SOT @ 1.3
Pablo Fornals 2+ Shots
Against Nottingham Forest, Newcastle had 7 shots from outside the box as well as 4 shots from just inside the box but in central areas. Forest left so many gaps in midfield there was a lot of room for central players to take long shots. Pablo Fornals averaged 1.32 shots per 90 last season but half of these shots were from further than 18 yards out. With Cresswell bombing on from left back Fornals will move into central positions and will get plenty of opportunities for shots from central areas. As Forest play 3 at the back there will be more room for players in slightly deeper roles to have shooting opportunities. Already mentioned is Forest’s weaknesses from crosses and as a winger that comes inside Fornals will also be one of the players getting into the box when the ball is on opposite sides of the pitch.
Fornals will be afforded plenty of shooting opportunities so will be able to register at least 2 shots in this match.
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Prediction: Pablo Fornals 2+ Shots
Jack Colback to be Carded
Jack Colback amassed a huge 12 yellow cards last year in the Championship and only 2 Forest players had committed more fouls than him. Forest struggled in midfield in their last match and opposition players had plenty of time on the ball, this led to Forest midfielders chasing the opposition and diving in to challenges trying to stop them playing further passes. Apart from Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen, West Ham’s next most fouled players were Fornals, Lanzini, Benrahma, Rice and Soucek, all central players. With all these players up against one of the Championships most carded players last season, in a team that struggled centrally in their last game there is a good chance he will be carded.
The referee for the match is Robert Jones who has given at least 2 yellow cards in 4 of his last 5 matches, so if he is to continue this amount of cards per match Colback should be one of the favourites to be booked.
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Prediction: Jack Colback to be Carded
Written by an Andy verified content writer
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How to watch Nottingham Forest v West Ham in the Premier League
📅 When is Nottingham Forest v West Ham? / Sunday, 14th August 2022, 14:00
🏟 Where is Nottingham Forest v West Ham? / The City Ground (Nottingham)
📺 What TV channel is Nottingham Forest v West Ham? / Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League 🟨 …And who is the referee for Nottingham Forest v West Ham? / Robert Jones 🏴
