AFC Bournemouth welcome Nottingham Forest to the Vitality Stadium on Sunday, 26 October, for a Premier League clash that pits an in-form home side against a struggling visitor.
Bournemouth have turned their ground into a fortress this season and, with six wins in the last ten meetings (and Forest winless in all), the head-to-head record tilts heavily in the Cherries’ favour. With kick-off approaching, the question is whether Forest can halt their slide and upset the odds against a Bournemouth side brimming with attacking confidence.
Best Bets & Predictions
Based on Bournemouth’s superior attacking output, defensive solidity at home, and Forest’s inability to keep a clean sheet this season, here are our top betting recommendations. We’re particularly confident in the Home Win due to the stark contrast in recent form and head-to-head dominance.
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bournemouth to Win | 7/10 @ Bet365 (58.8%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Nottingham Forest haven’t won any of the last 10 meetings between these two sides, with history definitely being on the side of Bournemouth. More recent form has been on the side of the Cherries too, with Bournemouth going six games without a loss in the Premier League and sitting in fourth place. Nottingham Forest have only won once this season and that was 11 games ago, on the opening day of the Premier League season. This will be Sean Dyche’s first game in charge of Forest but it’ll be a tough challenge to travel to Bournemouth and leave with a positive result. |
| Both Teams To Score – No | 19/20 @ Bet365 (51.3%) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Nottingham Forest have scored just five times this season, drawing blanks in four of their last five games and scoring just one goal in that time. Bournemouth have kept three clean sheets in eight Premier League games this season and both teams have failed to score in 40% of recent meetings between the two sides. |
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
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Bournemouth vs Nottingham Forest match odds
How both teams head into Bournemouth vs Nottingham Forest
Bournemouth have been the surprise package of the Premier League season thus far, sitting in fourth place after losing just one of their opening eight matches. That loss came on the opening day of the season, meaning that the Cherries have gone seven Premier League matches without loss. Bournemouth have certainly been able to find the net in recent weeks too, scoring 10 in their last five matches and they will be keen to continue their great run of form.
Nottingham Forest have really struggled this season, winning just one game this season and they are now on their third manager of the season. Nuno Espirito Santo was replaced by Ange Postecoglu but his reign only lasted 39 days, with the Nottingham Forest hierarchy turning to Sean Dyche to save their season. Forest’s form is the direct opposite of Bournemouth’s; they won their opening game of the Premier League season but haven’t picked up a victory since then.
Bournemouth team news
Enes Unal and David Brooks will definitely miss out through injury but Evanilson could be back in contention as he continues his return from a calf problem. Julio Soler may be available for selection again after returning from the Under-20 World Cup.
Nottingham Forest team news
Sean Dyche will almost have a full squad to pick from with Ola Aina being the only absentee, with the defender not due back until the new year.
Season Form & Standings
Bournemouth’s record (W4 D3 L1) keeps them in the top three, with 14 goals scored and just a single defeat. Forest, by contrast, sit in the relegation zone with only one win, a -10 goal difference, and no clean sheets. Bournemouth’s recent five-game form: DWWDW.
| Team | Pos | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Bournemouth | 3 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 11 | +3 | 15 |
| Nottingham Forest | 18 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 15 | -10 | 5 |
Head-to-head: Last 5 Meetings
Bournemouth have dominated this fixture, unbeaten in the last ten meetings, with Forest failing to register a single win in that span. The Cherries have claimed six victories, while four games ended level.
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 25/01/25 | AFC Bournemouth 5-0 Nottingham Forest | Premier League |
| 17/08/24 | Nottingham Forest 1-1 AFC Bournemouth | Premier League |
| 04/02/24 | AFC Bournemouth 1-1 Nottingham Forest | Premier League |
| 23/12/23 | Nottingham Forest 2-3 AFC Bournemouth | Premier League |
| 21/01/23 | AFC Bournemouth 1-1 Nottingham Forest | Premier League |
Conclusion: Can Forest Upset the Odds?
Bournemouth’s attacking power and dominance in this fixture make them clear favourites at home. Forest’s season-long struggles at both ends of the pitch, plus their poor record in this head-to-head, mean anything other than a home win would be a major surprise. For punters, 7/10 with Bet365 (58.8%) on the Bournemouth win is tough to ignore; this is the smart play for accumulators and singles alike.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.