Nottingham Forest vs Ipswich FA Cup Preview

• Forest to win
• Over 2.5 goals

Nottingham Forest are still firmly in the Champions League race in the Premier League, but recent struggles have seen them lose momentum.

As they aim to get back to winning ways, this FA Cup tie against Ipswich Town presents the perfect opportunity for Nuno Espírito Santo’s men to regain their form and confidence.

Ipswich, on the other hand, are deep in the relegation battle and struggling for consistency. However, their FA Cup run has been a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season, with a convincing 4-1 win over Coventry City in the previous round.

Kieran McKenna’s men will be eager to use this fixture as a platform to build confidence and momentum for the crucial relegation fight ahead.

Key Stats

• Nottingham Forest have won four of their last six home games in all competitions (D2).
• Forest have drawn against Arsenal and Liverpool at home in recent weeks, showing their resilience.
• Ipswich have lost four of their last six games in all competitions (W1, D1, L4).
• Ipswich have conceded 2+ goals in five of their last seven matches.
• The last time these sides met at the City Ground, Forest ran out comfortable winners.

Nottingham Forest: Can They Bounce Back?

Despite a poor run of form that has seen them win just once in their last six games, Nottingham Forest remain heavy favourites for this fixture.

A strong home record is one of the key reasons for optimism, as they have not lost at the City Ground in their last six outings (W4, D2), including impressive draws against Arsenal and Liverpool.

Forest had a tough time against Exeter in the last round, needing penalties to advance after a 120-minute battle. That performance frustrated Nuno Espírito Santo, who will be eager to see a much more dominant display from his side this time around.

Expect him to field a strong lineup to restore confidence and ensure progression to the quarter-finals.

Recent Form (Last Five Matches in All Competitions)

• Premier League: Forest 4-3 Newcastle – Win
• Premier League: Fulham 2-1 Forest – Loss
• FA Cup: Exeter 2-2 Forest (Forest won on penalties) – Win
• Premier League: Brighton 0-7 Forest – Win
• Premier League: Forest 1-3 Arsenal – Loss

Key Player: Morgan Gibbs-White (Midfielder)

• One of Forest’s most creative players.
• Has contributed to nine goals in his last 11 games (G4, A5).
• Will be key in unlocking Ipswich’s vulnerable defence.

Ipswich Town: Can They Cause an FA Cup Upset?

Ipswich started the season brightly, but reality has hit them hard as they now find themselves among the worst-performing teams in the Premier League.

Their only bright moment recently was their FA Cup success, with a convincing 4-1 win over Coventry in the last round.

Now, they travel to Nottingham, one of the toughest venues to play at, hoping to find some inspiration. Given that Forest might rotate some key players, Ipswich could have a slight opportunity, but their poor away form (L3 in last five away games) does not inspire confidence.

Recent Form (Last Five Matches in All Competitions)

• Premier League: Tottenham 4-1 Ipswich – Loss
• Premier League: Ipswich 1-1 Aston Villa – Draw
• FA Cup: Coventry 1-4 Ipswich – Win
• Premier League: Ipswich 0-2 Wolves – Loss
• Premier League: Southampton 2-1 Ipswich – Loss

Key Player: Sammie Szmodics (Midfielder)

• Scored five of his last six goals before half-time.
• Could be Ipswich’s main attacking threat.
• Needs to step up in a tough away fixture.

Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Meetings in All Competitions)

Key Trends

• Forest are unbeaten in their last five meetings with Ipswich (W3, D2).
• Forest have kept three clean sheets in their last five games against Ipswich.
• Ipswich haven’t won at the City Ground since 2015.

Tactical Insights

Nottingham Forest’s Approach

• Dominate possession and dictate the tempo.
• Exploit Ipswich’s leaky defence with high pressing.
• Use width to create chances for their forwards.

Ipswich Town’s Approach

• Sit deep and hit Forest on the counter-attack.
• Defend with discipline and avoid individual errors.
• Utilise set-pieces as a potential goal-scoring opportunity.

Match Prediction

Nottingham Forest have been a dominant force at home and despite their recent struggles, they should have too much quality for Ipswich.

The visitors’ poor defensive record and lack of attacking consistency make this a tough challenge for them, even if Forest choose to rotate their squad.

Final Score Prediction: Nottingham Forest 3-0 Ipswich Town

• Forest to control the game and dominate possession.
• Morgan Gibbs-White to shine in midfield.
• Ipswich’s defensive frailties to be exposed.
• Forest to comfortably progress to the quarter-finals.

For more info on this game, you may also visit:
Fixtures – Emirates FA Cup – Competitions | The Football Association