Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United: odds and best bets: Props and predictions for March 17
Initial Thoughts
Nottingham Forest host Newcastle United on Friday night, with the Magpies continuing their fight for the European places and the home side batting it out to stay in the league.
The Narrative
Forest killed it in the Championship last season to gain promotion and then signed a league record 23 players in the summer window. With performance seriously lacking on the pitch in England's top flight, it's fair to say that the club’s hastily assembled squad of brand new players have needed plenty of time to bed in.
Forest currently sit in 14th, but that league position does not accurately reflect how precarious their Premier League status actually is. The midlands club are only two points above the drop zone, and last weekend five of the six teams below managed to pick up points as Forest fell 3-1 away to Tottenham.
After a blistering start to the season that saw them stationed in the top four, Newcastle have struggled of late with only one win in their last six league outings. The Magpies have also had to contend with the disappointment of a Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester United - which saw them denied a first piece of silverware for over seventy years.
Eddie Howe's side finally got back to winning ways last weekend though, with a 2-1 victory over Wolves at St James' Park last Sunday.
Nuts & Bolts
Heading into tomorrow night’s matchup, Newcastle are still without an away win in the league this year, and they’ve managed only a single goal in their last four matches on the road. Eddie Howe’s backline has faltered as well - shipping a goal in each of their last five matches.
Forest have made the City Ground a fortress of late, with Steve Cooper’s side enjoying a nine game unbeaten run at home that stretches all the way back to October last year. And the Forest attack has scored in all but one of their home games this campaign as well.
Two factors are in Newcastle’s favour though: 1) the Magpies ran out 2-0 winners last them these teams met in August, and 2) Steve Cooper's side have conceded nine goals in their last three outings.
Homestand Picks
All odds courtesy of NorthStar Bets
Good value considering Forest have shared the points with both Man City and Chelsea at the City ground this season and are unbeaten at home since October last year.
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