Nottingham Forest welcome Sunderland to the City Ground in a meeting that brings together two sides with plenty to prove. Live on Sky Sports, the game kicks off at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, 27 September. Below, you can find our full match preview, along with our best bets and all the key stats you need for this Premier League clash.
Our Predictions for Nottingham Forest vs Sunderland
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunderland Double Chance | 10/11 @ BOYLE Sports (52.4%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Sunderland have made a strong start to their first season back in the top-flight and heading into the weekend, they sit seventh in the table (W2 D2 L1). They have proved they can be stubborn, and with Forest still needing time to gel under their new boss, the visitors can get a result. Forest travelled to Real Betis on Wednesday and will have had less time to prepare for this clash. |
| Scorecast: 1-0 Sunderland, Wilson Isidor | 60/1 @ BOYLE Sports (55.6%) | ⭐ | Sunderland can keep things tight and in Wilson Isidor they have a player who is growing in confidence and now has three Premier League goals in 236 minutes this season. At 60/1, this longshot could be worth some small change. |
How both teams go into Nottingham Forest vs Sunderland
In five league matches this season, Nottingham Forest have one win, two draws, and two losses. Sunderland, meanwhile, have two wins, two draws, and one loss. Following the departure of Nuno Espírito Santo, Ange Postecoglou is now in charge. The Aussie manager saw his side throw away a 2-1 lead at Real Beits on Wednesday as they conceded a late equaliser, and there’s no denying he will be targeting this game for his first home win at the helm.
Sunderland played out a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa at Stadium of Light in their last Premier League match to extend their unbeaten streak to three, leaving them in seventh place on eight points through five matches. The Black Cats have started the season well, but will know that they need to improve their form on the road if they are to remain in the top half of the table.
Nottingham Forest team news
Nicolas Dominguez and Ola Aina are both confirmed absentees for Saturday’s clash, while Douglas Luiz and Nikola Milenkovic are doubts and will be assessed before kick-off.
Sunderland team news
Reinildo is suspended after his red card last weekend. Denis Cirkin, Habib Diarra, Romaine Mundle and Luke O’Nein will all miss out through injury.
Odds correct at the time of writing.
Season Form & Standings
2025/26 season to date. Sunderland have started stronger, sitting seventh with two wins and two draws from five matches. Forest have found goals hard to come by and defensive solidity lacking, reflected in their fifteenth place. Both sides will view this fixture as a chance to jump-start their campaign.
| Team | Pos | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunderland | 7 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 8 |
| Nottingham Forest | 15 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | -4 | 5 |
Potential Match-Winners
- Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) – 3 goals from 13 shots (28.6% shot accuracy), 1.54 xG. The danger man, especially on the counter.
- Callum Hudson-Odoi (Nottingham Forest) – Looks lively in attack, part of Forest’s 53 shots and 118 penalty area touches so far.
- Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest) – 20 Premier League goals last season and will be confident of scoring against a newly-promoted club.
- Anthony Patterson (Sunderland) – 14 saves and two clean sheets; key for Sunderland’s defensive resilience.
Head-to-Head
The last two meetings between these sides were in the 2017/18 Championship season, with each team winning away from home. The balance is perfectly poised, adding extra intrigue heading into this clash.
Last 2 Meetings
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 30/12/17 | Nottingham Forest 0-1 Sunderland | Championship |
| 12/09/17 | Sunderland 0-1 Nottingham Forest | Championship |
Who holds the edge?
Will Nottingham Forest’s ball dominance finally pay dividends, or can Sunderland’s clinical approach and defensive steel hold firm? All signs point to a finely balanced contest, but with Sunderland’s counter-punching threat, our top pick remains Sunderland Double Chance at 10/11 with BOYLE Sports. Expect a close encounter that could be settled by a single goal.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.