Leeds-Nottingham Forest is a Premier League Week 7 replay and is played on Tuesday at 20:45: TV, odds, predictions
A match with enormous specific weight, in which winning or losing would make all the difference in this world. A win would be an important turning point for both Leeds and Nottingham Forest, who are involved in a fight for safety that is rarely as gripping and uncertain as in this edition of the Premier League.
Let’s start with the league table, where from 12th place down no one is yet sure of keeping their category. The distance between Javi Gracia’s men in fourth-last place and Steve Cooper’s men in sixth-last place is really minimal: there is only one point difference. The Spanish coach, who has only been in charge since February, has a record of two wins, one draw and three defeats in six matches. Last Saturday, the chances of returning from London with points in their pockets were very slim: against Arsenal, the final result spoke for itself (4-1), even though the Whites had managed to build some good chances to hurt the Gunners. The feeling is that Leeds now have a lot at stake in the next three consecutive home challenges against Forest, Crystal Palace and Liverpool. The first two are tricky matches and the Elland Road side will need a boost, even if Gnonto and his team-mates have not been consistent in front of their own fans this year, picking up just 17 points.
Nottingham Forest haven’t won for two months
The winless streak is starting to become a long one for Nottingham Forest, who haven’t won since the City Ground clash with Leeds on 5 February.
Gibbs-White
In the last seven games, the Cooper-coached team has picked up only three points and has failed to move noticeably away from the red zone. On Saturday, against Wolverhampton, things looked to be going well, but with less than ten minutes remaining Podence’s goal cancelled out Johnson’s first-half lead, preventing the Tricky Trees from taking home the full prize. Worryingly, Forest’s lack of possession has been a major setback since the Leeds match two months ago when they failed to keep their goals unbroken.
The Prediction
Both sides have to contend with a large number of injuries, but that won’t stop them from giving each other a run for their money on the pitch. It should be a hard-fought yet spectacular match, in which neither side will attempt to speculate, and we expect a prolific affair, with at least three goals in total, if we stay away from the final result. Leeds should be able to avoid defeat.
Leeds v Nottingham Forest likely line-up
- LEEDS (4-3-3): Meslier; Ayling, Cooper, Struijk, Junior Firpo; McKennie, Roca, Kristensen; Sinisterra, Rodrigo, Summerville.
- NOTTINGHAM FOREST (4-2-3-1): Navas; Williams, Felipe, Niakhaté, Renan Lodi; Mangala, Freuler, Danilo; Dennis, Gibbs-White, Johnson.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-2
