Nottingham Forest welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to the City Ground in a Premier League clash on Sunday afternoon for a 2:05 pm kick-off. Forest arrive fresh off a win in the Europa League, while Brighton head to the Midlands after a 2-1 win over Brentford last weekend. Find our match preview and best bets below.
Best Bets & Predictions
Based on Brighton’s clinical edge and Forest’s struggles to convert chances, here are our top betting recommendations. We’re particularly confident in backing both teams to score, given both sides’ attacking numbers and defensive vulnerabilities.
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Both Teams to Score – Yes | 7/10 @ Bet365 (58.8%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | No team has seen a high percentage of their matches feature both teams scoring this season than Brighton. This bet has cashed in 75% of their league outings. Value here due to both teams’ high shot output and leaky defences. BTTS has landed in recent H2Hs. |
| Danny Welbeck to Score Anytime | 5/2 @ Sky Bet (28.6%) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Danny Welbeck has scored seven goals in his last seven Premier League games, with only Erling Haaland (8) netting more than him since the first game in this run in September. It’s already Welbeck’s second highest scoring season with Brighton, following his 10 from last season. |
Odds correct at the time of writing.
How both teams head into Nottingham Forest vs Brighton
Nottingham Forest welcome Brighton to the City Ground on Sunday with Sean Dyche chasing a personal milestone in the Premier League. His side arrive in good spirits after a convincing 3–0 win over Malmo in the Europa League, a result that stretched their winning run to three and their unbeaten streak to five across all competitions.
Despite the momentum, Forest remain stuck in 16th place, meaning Dyche’s immediate focus is still on pulling the club clear of danger before any loftier ambitions can be considered.
Brighton & Hove Albion defeated Brentford 2-1 at home in their last league match to extend their unbeaten streak to three, putting the visitors in sixth spot on 19 points through 12 games. Brighton lost 7-0 against Nottingham Forest last time out in February – they’ve not lost consecutive league games against the Tricky Trees since a run of five between 1980 and 1982.
Nottingham Forest team news
Ola Aina, Douglas Luiz, Angus Gunn and Oleksandr Zinchenko are out injured. Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White are a doubt.
Brighton team news
Adam Webster, Solly March, Kaoru Mitoma and James Milner are all ruled out for the visitors.
Season Form & Standings
Brighton have made an impressive start, sitting 6th with 19 points from 12 games. Forest, meanwhile, languish in 16th after failing to convert strong xG into points. Both teams average around 50% possession and 83% pass accuracy, but Brighton’s finishing has been the difference.
| Team | Pos | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 6 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 16 | +3 | 19 |
| Nottingham Forest | 16 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 20 | -7 | 12 |
Head-to-Head: Last 8 Meetings
The last eight contests between these sides have been tightly fought, with Forest edging the record (3 wins to Brighton’s 2, 3 draws). Recent games include a 7-0 Forest rout and a penalty shootout win in the FA Cup.
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 29/03/25 | Brighton 0-0 Nottingham Forest (3-4 pens) | FA Cup |
| 01/02/25 | Nottingham Forest 7-0 Brighton | Premier League |
| 22/09/24 | Brighton 2-2 Nottingham Forest | Premier League |
| 10/03/24 | Brighton 1-0 Nottingham Forest | Premier League |
| 25/11/23 | Nottingham Forest 2-3 Brighton | Premier League |
| 26/04/23 | Nottingham Forest 3-1 Brighton | Premier League |
| 18/10/22 | Brighton 0-0 Nottingham Forest | Premier League |
| 04/03/17 | Nottingham Forest 3-0 Brighton | Championship |
Conclusion
Will Brighton’s clinical finishing prove too much for a Forest side struggling to make their chances count? With attacking talent on both sides and a history of lively encounters, this fixture has all the ingredients for goals and drama. Our top selection is Both Teams to Score – Yes at 7/10 with Bet365 (58.8% implied) – a bet that has landed in several recent meetings.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
