Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea: Betting Odds & Prediction

Relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest host an in-form Chelsea side on Saturday evening. 

The home side can take a crucial step towards Premier League safety, while Chelsea look to maintain their push for a place in Europe next season. Forest secured a 1-0 away win in the reverse fixture back in September. Kick-off is set for 5:30pm UK time at the City Ground. 

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Nottingham Forest

Nuno Espirito Santo's side secured three vital points with a 3-1 win at relegated Sheffield United on Saturday. The result leaves them in 17th, three points ahead of Luton Town who occupy the final relegation place after 36 matches played. 

With just eight wins to their name all year, five of those have came in home fixtures. Their average of 1.11 points across 18 home outings still stands as the fourth-worst in the division, but they have avoided defeat in three of their last five at the City Ground.

A respectable 1.39 goals scored at home has been undermined by their tendency to concede; an average of 1.5 shipped at home has cost them, with Forest failing to record a clean sheet since a 2-0 home win against West Ham in February. Given Chelsea's recent strong scoring record, Santo's men will need to be tighter at the back if they are to secure a result this weekend. 

Chelsea

The Blues have shown signs of improvement under Mauricio Pochettino in recent weeks, and are unbeaten in their last three against sides all in the top-half. A resounding 5-0 home win over West Ham was the second time they'd hit five or more in the last month, following a 6-0 victory over Everton in April. 

With nine goals scored in their last three, Chelsea look to have found their goalscoring touch buoyed by star man Cole Palmer. The Londoners have failed to win in their last five away matches, but fought back from two goals down to eventually draw 2-2 with Aston Villa two weeks ago. 

Their away record is only the ninth-best in the Premier League, but the Blues are starting to build momentum under Pochettino and are now in a strong position to play European football next season. Chelsea have also kept back-to-back clean sheets in their last two outings, though both of these were played at home. 

Prediction

Forest's win at Bramall Lane last week has given them a little breathing space but after the appeal for their four point deduction was rejected this week, they remain in dire need a win to remain in the Premier League next season. They come up against a Chelsea side who look to be improving week on week and rightly enter favourites despite their uncertain record on the road. 

OddsNow's Pick: Chelsea to win (Evens @ Coral)