Nottingham Forest find themselves in the midst of a fierce battle to avoid the drop from the Premier League, with the likes of Burnley, Luton Town, Brentford, Everton, and Crystal Palace also in the mix.
While the title race at the top end of the table looks like it could go down to the final couple of games, the same applies for Forest in the fight to avoid the dreaded drop-down to the Championship.
Every Point Crucial
With such fine margins determining games, Forest will be hoping their hard work, and a little bit of luck, help them retain their Premier League status for at least another season. Forest have some tough games in the final weeks of the campaign, none more so than an encounter with a Manchester City side who are 7/4 in the Champions League betting to retain their European crown this term. Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens, who are 7/5 to win the Premier League title for those who bet on football matches online, head to the City Ground on April 28th. While the Reds won’t be expected to get anything from that game, they have caused City problems in the past.
City headed to Nottingham in February last season and looked on course for victory thanks to Bernardo Silva’s 41st-minute goal. However, an 84th-minute equaliser from Reds’ striker Chris Wood saw the spoils shared at the City Ground. Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo would love nothing more than to see a similar resilient performance when the reigning champions arrive in the East Midlands. However, it’s in other key games that Forest must secure victories if they are to avoid playing Championship football next season.
Season-Defining Games on the Horizon
Looking ahead to Forest’s run-in, three games leap off the page. Starting with a trip to Goodison Park to take on an Everton side, who like Forest, have also been hit by a points deduction this season. Charged with breaking financial fair play rules, points deductions have brought Forest and Everton back into the thick of a relegation dogfight. Both clubs will head into that encounter on Merseyside confident they can give their survival hopes a significant boost.
Forest’s big games in the battle to avoid the drop all come away from home, with trips to Sheffield United and Burnley to look forward to. The Blades have disappointed throughout the season the South Yorkshire outfit might even be relegated by the time Forest head to the Steel City. A final-day clash against Burnley is another standout fixture and the Reds will be hoping they still have their destiny in their own hands when they head to Turf Moor on May 19th.
Last season saw the likes of Leicester City and Leeds United relegated on the final day of the Premier League campaign and clubs might well be battling to avoid the drop on the last weekend this term. With the experience of manager Nuno at the helm, the Reds will be doing all they can to make sure they are not one of the unfortunate three that will lose their seat at the head table of English football.
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