Nottingham Forest

There are four Premier League games on Sunday, and we will bring you every moment.

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Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's games, he takes on singer-songwriter and Arsenal fan Sam Tompkins.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

This game could be dubbed 'the deduction derby' and it's hard to know what to expect from either team.

I had Everton down to get a draw at Chelsea last time out, so I was only six goals out.

The questions here are whether Sean Dyche's side are going to respond to that heavy defeat, and also whether Toffees striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is going to be fit?

Without him, Everton do lack a bit of bite. Beto missed a chance from three yards out on Monday that reminded me of me, in the days when I played for Chelsea and was even missing when I was stood inside the goal.

Nottingham Forest are hardly in great form either, with one win in nine games, so the safest thing here would be to go for a draw.

I am not going to do that, though. It's a big game at the bottom and I think there will be a winner... and I am going for Everton to sneak it, on the basis that they will show some anger after losing 6-0.

Sam's prediction: 1-3

This weekend is like one big relegation scrap. There is something about Forest that makes me think they will win this - Morgan Gibbs-White is playing well.

Read the rest of their predictions here

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League have confirmed the outcome of Everton's appeal against their latest points deduction will be known before the final day of the season.

Everton are appealing the two-point deduction imposed by an independent commission on the club following its admission of a breach of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules.

This followed an initial 10-point deduction which was reduced to six on appeal in February, for the three-year period to 2021-22.

Sean Dyche's side sit 16th in the table, two points above the drop zone.

The Premier League said making the decision on the latest deduction, and subsequent appeal, before the end of the season "will provide certainty to all clubs and fans".

Nick Mashiter
Senior football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest's appeal against their four-point punishment for breaching profit and sustainability rules will be held on Wednesday, 24 April.

The hearing itself is expected to be wrapped up within a day but no final decision will be made on Wednesday and Forest will have to wait to discover if they are successful, with the timeframe of the outcome unclear.

Forest were given a four-point deduction in March after an independent commission found their losses to 2022-23 breached the PSR threshold of £61m by £34.5m.

Forest were set to be issued with a six-point deduction - three points for the initial breach and a further three for the size of the breach - but their "early plea" and "cooperation" meant that was reduced to four points.

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo says the bond between fans and his team is crucial, amid recent ticket price increases at the club.

Season tickets at the City Ground have risen by an average of 24% for the 2024-25 season.

"This is our main purpose. This is why we work hard, to try and please our fans, not disappoint them," said Espirito Santo to BBC Radio Nottingham.

"One of the worst things when you are a manager is when you lose and you walk on the pitch and look at the stand and you feel that you maybe disappointed the fans.

"This one of the worst things to feel because they are backing us so much.

"We will try and keep this bond because the union between us and fans is important, here at the City Ground and also away.

"But I understand it is a difficult moment, the news of the increasing prices for the tickets for next season. But I am not totally aware of the details and when I don't fully know then I rather keep my silence.

"What I know is the importance of our fans and how important it is that we keep sticking together until the end."

Listen to Nuno speak to BBC Radio Nottingham Sport here

Nick Mashiter
Senior football news reporter

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Sunday’s Premier League fixture against Everton.

Here are the headlines from his news conference:

• Both clubs have been deducted points this season after profit and sustainability rule breaches, with Forest’s appeal against their four-point deduction due to be heard next week. Nuno said: “It’s due to circumstances but it’s a game, very important for both clubs due to the situation we are in. We have been involved in similar situations, the deduction of points. We don’t know exactly how many points we have, both of the sides.”

• On facing Everton at Goodison Park: “I know how strong they are at Goodison Park and how hard it is going to face them. It’s going to be a tough game. Part of the plan is to play good, control and dominate the game. If that happens the crowd gets silenced. We have to be ready. There will be moments when we don’t have the ball and the crowd will get loud. We have to be strong in those moments.”

• Forest have been criticised for raising season ticket prices for 2024-25. Nuno said: “I understand the question but I am going to be honest with you, who am I to judge the decisions of the club? I am not aware and when I’m not aware of why the decision has been made I cannot comment because I do not know enough. What I know for sure is how important our fans are. I said from the first day I arrived that it’s very special the relationship we have with our fans.”

• Nuno continued: “When I don’t know things, sometimes I shut up – it’s better to be silent. But what I know is the fans are really important and special for the boys. When they are on the pitch they can count on their support and their noise.”

• Taiwo Awoniyi remains out with a thigh injury with Willy Boly also sidelined but Anthony Elanga could return after missing the Wolves draw with a knock. “The same players are out. Boly is out but we are recovering. There are issues but let’s see,” offered Nuno.

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest midfielder Ryan Yates feels the side have to "believe more than ever" to ensure Premier League safety.

The Reds currently sit 17th in the table - one point above Luton Town in the relegation zone.

Having been given a four-point deduction for breaching profit and sustainability rules, they face fellow relegation battlers Everton on Sunday - who themselves have twice been deducted points this campaign.

"I think the difference this season is that we have that experience [of surviving relegation]. Last year [that] was a lot of our debut season in the Premier League," the 26-year-old told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"A lot of players had never been in that position before and we can take confidence that not only have we done it before but we have been in that situation and we have got that experience. I think we have got to lean on that and believe more than ever."

After the trip to Everton at the weekend, Forest host leaders Manchester City, travel to bottom-side Sheffield United, welcome Europe-chasing Chelsea before finishing with a trip to Turf Moor to face Burnley.

"I think togetherness more than anything, throughout the whole club [is important]," said Yates. "We have showed a lot of moments in the season where we have been a match for most teams but we are taking a point and being really disappointed.

"Last season we were probably happy with another point on the board. But that's our mentality and we have to get over the line. We know it's going to be tough but we've got enough to do it.

"We have got a lot of winnable games coming up. We back ourselves to get something against Manchester City at the City Ground and we have more quality and belief than ever."

Tottenham are leading the race for 24-year-old Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White and are ready to make a move for the Englishman in the summer. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Will anger of the soar in season ticket prices have a "detrimental impact" on Nottingham Forest's hopes of securing Premier League survival?

On the latest episode of BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up And Show More Football podcast, David Jackson and Colin Fray discuss the price increase and the timing of the announcement.

"Forest have not been very magic on or off the pitch this week," said Fray. "A draw at home to Wolves and now season card prices.

"Some of the angry reaction is very understandable because the timing is off. The club ought to be bringing everybody together and it has done exactly the opposite."

An adult season ticket in Zone One of the Brian Clough Upper stand has increased by 28% while a child's season ticket has increased by up to 111%.

Nottingham Forest Supporters' Trust said it "strongly opposes" the rise.

"We all know how the togetherness of the fans and the players kept them up last season in the relegation battle," added Fray. "The timing of this has done the opposite.

"That could yet have a very detrimental effect on the club.

"It is the fans that will have a huge part in the coming weeks of the season and I am not sure they will be in the right frame of mind to help them now. And that is not their fault, it is the club's."

Forest, who have five games left and are at risk of relegation, are also appealing against their four-point deduction for breaking profit and sustainability rules, with the case due to be heard next week.

Listen to the Shut Up And Show More Football podcast on BBC Sounds

The key facts and figures before Everton host Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday.

• Everton have won just one of their past 15 Premier League games, and their past two victories have both been over Burnley (2-0 in December and 1-0 earlier this month).

• Nottingham Forest have gained six points in their past five Premier League games after only taking four from their first eight of 2024.

• Of the 17 sides to have been in the Premier League since the start of last season, Everton have won the fewest home games (10), earned the fewest home points (37), lost the most home games (17) and scored the fewest home goals (32).

• And of those 17 sides, Forest have won the fewest away games (three), earned the fewest away points (18), lost the most away games (23), scored the fewest away goals (28) and conceded the most away goals (77).

• The Blues have conceded 48 league goals this season, having shipped 66 in 2021-22 and 57 last term. They last conceded 50 or more in three consecutive 38-game campaigns between 1907-08 and 1909-10.

• Including penalties, the Reds have scored both the joint fewest goals (six) and the lowest percentage of goals (14%) from set-pieces this season. Meanwhile, they have also conceded the most goals (25) and the highest percentage of goals (43%) from set-pieces in 2023-24.

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary of Everton v Nottingham Forest at 13:30 BST on Sunday

Nottingham Forest want in excess of £20m for centre-back Murillo amid interest from Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris St-Germain. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Newcastle have renewed their interested in Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, 24. (Football Insider, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Nick Mashiter
Senior football news reporter

Nottingham Forest will introduce safe standing to the City Ground from next season.

The club have confirmed work will start this summer and is due to be completed ahead of the start the 2024-25 campaign.

The plans will accommodate around 2,300 safe standing spaces for home fans in the Upper Bridgford Stand and Lower Bridgford Stand while there will also be spaces allocated for away supporters.

Chairman Tom Cartledge said: "By embracing safe standing, the club aims to not only to tackle the issue of persistent standing which has presented the club with serious safety concerns in recent years, but also to enhance the stadium environment to celebrate the passionate support and dedication of our fans.

"This initiative underscores our dedication to providing the best possible match day experience for our fans whilst prioritising their safety and comfort. Safe standing represents an exciting development for Nottingham Forest, and we look forward to its introduction next season."

In 2022, the government confirmed safe standing could be introduced in the Premier League and Championship from the start of the 2022-23 season.

Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Cardiff City had taken part in a pilot study during the second half of the 2021-22 campaign.

Nick Mashiter
Senior football news reporter

The next 10 days will be some of the most important in Nottingham Forest’s recent history but Nuno Espirito Santo’s side still have the chance to write their own future.

The club’s appeal against their four-point deduction for breaking profit and sustainability rules will take place next week, in the aftermath of Sunday’s vital showdown at Everton.

Just a point separates the sides, who are scrapping just above the Premier League’s relegation zone, and, along with court appearances, the game will help determine their survival fates.

Nuno described the situation at the bottom of the Premier League as a “mess” although the league has no control over the appeal dates – including Everton’s after they launched their second one over a two-point penalty this week - as they are in hands of independent commissions.

But regardless of the off-field issues both sides have the opportunity to put some daylight between them and the bottom three.

Everton’s goal difference took a hammering with Monday’s 6-0 defeat at Chelsea, leaving them level on -16 with Forest to further harm their hopes and boost their rivals’, including Luton.

One defeat in five for Nuno’s side, although three of those have been draws, shows there is plenty of fight left in his team.

They also travel to doomed Sheffield United and fellow strugglers Burnley in the final five games – along with the daunting visits of Manchester City and Chelsea.

Forest have a fine chance to save themselves the traditional way – by winning games - notwithstanding what happens in the courts.

Pat Riddell
Fan writer

It is obvious that Morgan Gibbs-White has relished the opportunity to play in his favoured number 10 position. With five Premier League goals and seven assists this season, the 24-year-old is intrinsic to Nottingham Forest's style of play.

While Steve Cooper was trying to evolve the Reds' formation and tactics, with Gibbs-White on the right of a 4-3-3 line-up - not an unfamiliar position for a similar player at one of the league's top clubs - the return to 4-2-3-1 under Nuno Espirito Santo has allowed the mercurial midfielder to be at the heart of everything Forest do.

Saturday's goal against his former club Wolves, as well as involvement in the second, alongside recent equally impressive performances prove not only his importance to the team but also why he is being linked to the likes of Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Forest fans, of course, will very reluctantly depart with one of the most talented players to grace the City Ground this century. Talk of an England call-up might be premature but, as he did against Fulham recently, Trentside has not seen many in recent years with the ability to transform a game through sheer will, determination and talent.

Avoiding relegation will clearly avert disaster on many fronts, but falling foul of PSR again could be as problematic. If Forest are forced to sell at some point, there is no fan anywhere who wants that player to be Gibbs-White.

Pat Riddell can be found at The Famous Club, external

We asked for your thoughts on Nottingham Forest's 2-2 draw with Wolves on Saturday.

Here are some of your answers:

Nottingham Forest fans

Jack: Forest played all the best football but conceded a very soft opener then another set piece. Frustrating not to win but encouraged by how good we look on the ball.

Kris: I don’t like to single players out, but it’s impossible not to mention just how poor Yates is. A fan favourite as a home grown player, but not Premier League standard by a long way. It’s time he moved on, wherever we finish the season. On this showing, with more points dropped from a winning position, it’s increasingly looking like the Championship.

Luke: Yet another example of not getting the points we deserve from a game, the story of our season and the reason why we’re 17th. It’s easy to once again say “if we play like that again we’ll be fine” but this is the business end of the season and we need wins.

Wolves fans

Mike: Scrappy game, lit up by the Cunha solo goal. Wolves showed more up front than in recent games. It was good to see Hwang back for 30 minutes, when he and Cunha are back up to speed we should be far more threatening in an attacking sense. Good to see VAR get a decision right!

Jason: Solid performance today. We are missing the attacking drive of Pedro Neto and the other attacking options but overall benefitted from Cunha's return. A decent performance from a talented but thin and injury-hit squad. Well done Wolves.

Andy: Considering our injury list and players not fully fit I think we did well at the City Ground. Not an easy place to go, especially as Forest need the points to avoid relegation. Gary O'Neil should be pleased with this performance considering the circumstances.

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's six Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra match commentary in full:

Manchester City v Luton Town

Bournemouth v Manchester United