Nottingham Forest

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

For week 10 he takes on The Piano TV series winner Brad Kella.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

West Ham got a good result against Manchester United last week which will have done them a lot of good, but I still feel they were fortunate to win that game.

I'm not talking about their late penalty that gave them victory, more the fact United should have been out of sight by half-time. So, am I convinced the Hammers have turned things round under Julen Lopetegui? No, not at all.

In contrast, Nottingham Forest are flying and I really like the way they are playing this season - they have a nice balance to their team.

I was born in Nottingham and used to support Forest as a kid and, the way they are playing, I am going to go back to supporting them.

You can call me a fair weather fan if you want, but I like forests – I am a big fan of Sherwood on iPlayer too – and I like woods too, especially Chris Wood.

The 'Wood-chopper' is one of the most underrated strikers of the Premier League era. I am backing him to score again, and Forest to win again.

Brad's prediction: 1-0

Forest are doing well and they should win this.

Read the full predictions and have your say

Seven matches make up Saturday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

• Newcastle v Arsenal - 12:30

• Bournemouth v Manchester City

• Ipswich v Leicester

• Liverpool v Brighton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Nottingham Forest v West Ham

• Southampton v Everton

• Wolves v Crystal Palace - 17:30 - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction

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Former winger Matt Jarvis and three-time Premier League winner Robert Huth have praised Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood's form and the revival of the old-fashioned centre-forward.

Speaking to Sportsworld on BBC World Service, Jarvis who described Wood as a "winger's dream" said: “I used to love having someone you could cross the ball into and someone who is going to go and get on the end of it.

"I think that's exactly what he has at Forest. He's got wingers he relies heavily on because he's not going to take the ball, take three or four people on and put it into the top corner. He's relying on people to put crosses into the box, and he's got [Anthony] Elanga and [Callum] Hudson-Odoi doing that for him.

“If you look back, since Nuno [Espírito Santo] took over as manager in December, I think only Haaland scored more goals which aren't penalties, which is an incredible stat.

"He's really hitting a great vein of form, he's enjoying himself and for me you can see they're enjoying themselves. They've got an opportunity to score goals, they've taken it and now they're riding that wave of enjoying the flow.

"They can feel the results are coming, and I think he's also having that run where he knows he's going to get chances in the game and if he's in the correct position he knows he can score goals. What a place to be in as a player.”

Huth added: “I used to hate playing against an old-school number nine. I probably played against one of the best in [Didier] Drogba and Alan Shearer, you knew in the game, you knew the ball was going to come in the box and you’re having to defend.

“I actually had Woody [Chris Wood] when I was at Leicester when he first came through, so I know exactly what he's like. He's always been a great finisher and always had really good movement in the box, but as the game developed into a different direction with a false number nine, he didn't probably get the chance at other Premier League clubs that he should have had.”

Image source, PA Media

Nottingham Forest midfielder Ryan Yates says he still harbours hopes of representing England.

The 26-year-old has helped Forest make an excellent start to the Premier League season.

"It's always a possibility, it is every young boy's dream to play for their country," he said. "I feel like I am playing really well, but I feel like I can give even more.

"I feel I have got plenty more to come. I honestly take each day as it comes, but I want to keep improving and I never say never to anything.

"I just look back when I was on loan at Barrow, Scunthorpe and Shrewsbury and now I am playing in the Premier League with Forest, third season, anything is possible because there were some dark times when I was on loan."

Yates feels he has improved as a player since Forest won promotion to the Premier League in 2022 and he added: "I do feel this is where I belong.

"This is my third season now, I feel I have progressed year on year and will continue to do so. I am really progressing under Nuno and I am pushing for more."

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest have won their last two Premier League games – they last won three in a row in the top flight in May 1999.

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport Journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against West Ham (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Nuno was asked about the press conference he did with 'Warriors United', a club for children and young adults with learning disabilities in Nottinghamshire, earlier this week: "It was a nice moment and a moment for awareness. I saw the Paralympics and I was impressed by the amazing things that people can do. The bond between us, the club and the beautiful city of Nottingham - we are getting close."

• On team news: "We have some issues that we are still assessing. [Morgan Gibbs-White] is part of the group that we have to assess. Chris [Wood], Elliot [Anderson] and Jota [Silva] have knocks."

• He addressed the rumours of contract negotiations with in-form striker Wood: "Nothing has changed. Chris is OK and doing fantastic for us. What it means to have him and his goals is more important. All things will happen naturally."

• When asked if the forward is underrated: "I cannot answer that. What he has is a huge amount of respect from all of us because he is a top professional and delivers from so many situations."

• On Saturday's opponents West Ham: "They are a very good team. They are coming from a high [after beating Manchester United]. They have a good group of experienced players and have a very good manager. Our standards must be very high."

• On the strong bond that midfielder James Ward-Prowse commented on: "I just try to provide the right environment for them to build it. Being together is the best thing. The more time they spend together, it creates bonds on and off the pitch. We work with each other for the same purpose."

• On Matz Sels' impressive form: "When we are talking about individual positions, goalkeeper is so specific and special. Confidence plays a big part, not only for him but transmitting it to the team. It makes us better and we are delighted."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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James Ward-Prowse has spoken about the "fantastic group" of players and staff at Nottingham Forest, and his hopes that the club "challenge for something really special this season".

Speaking on BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up And Show More Football podcast about his time so far at the club, Ward-Prowse said: "I've settled in very well, it's been a fantastic group to come into.

"I've been welcomed in straight away and it's a pleasure coming into training every day and working with the players and the staff - it's been a real pleasure so far and we're looking to hopefully build."

Forest are seventh in the Premier League and the on-loan West Ham midfielder believes the camaraderie amongst the squad is key to that.

He said: "You need that to perform well in the Premier League, you can't get by on ability alone, you need a bit of togetherness and to suffer together - when you do that, you need good people around you.

"I can look around the team and bench and see a real good group of lads who are willing to fight for each other and you need that in those difficult moments in games to get results.

"The challenge is to build on the great start, we can't get carried away with how well we've been doing, but we need to focus on building on what we've done and hopefully that will leave us in good stead to challenge for something really special this season."

On Saturday, Forest face West Ham - Ward-Prowse's parent club. Speaking about the 13th-placed Hammers, he said: "The start's not been the best for them but it's still a squad full of Premier League-quality players who can hurt you at any moment.

"It's going to be a strange game watching it from a neutral perspective - I'll be sitting on my hands either way!"

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Saturday's game at the City Ground will be the first time West Ham United have played a Premier League game outside of London this season.

The latest episode of BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up And Show More Football podcast is available now on BBC Sounds.

There are reflections on Friday's win at Leicester and midfielder James Ward-Prowse joins Colin Fray, ahead of Forest facing his parent club West Ham this weekend.

Listen to the full episode

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Chris Wood is your old-fashioned centre forward and he has been very good for Nottingham Forest so far this season.

He has always been a natural target man but Forest play to his strengths and it gives them a different dimension.

Wood's goal against Leicester was proper old-school. He rolled the defender and put it in the bottom corner. A centre-half in the modern game is not used to having to deal with a striker that likes a physical battle.

The game has changed so we now see so many teams using their number ten high up the pitch or a rotational number nine. There are not many number nines in any league now that are your target man like Alan Shearer and Didier Drogba were.

There has almost been a lost generation of those players, so it is nice to see Wood doing his thing and finding his form.

He is showing, once again, the importance of those type of strikers.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Pat Riddell
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Wood is on the verge of greatness. The 32-year-old needs only three more goals to become Nottingham Forest's all-time leading Premier League goalscorer.

His exquisite double against Leicester City on Friday not only moved the Reds up to fifth (back down to seventh after the weekend's other results) but meant the New Zealand international has now scored 17 goals since Nuno Espirito Santo's appointment in December. Only Erling Haaland (18) has scored more non-penalty goals in that time.

Forest's rather meagre Premier League showing in the 1990s means that Wood has now drawn level with Stan Collymore's 22 goals and is just two short of Bryan Roy's long-standing record of 24. Another three goals before January and he will have achieved that within two years.

Not bad for a player who was routinely derided when he arrived from Newcastle United in January 2023. Admittedly he struggled to fit into our style of play at the time, and evidently needed a little time to settle.

That said, his single goal that season against Manchester City - just a month after arriving - was probably worth his £15m transfer fee alone. And the point earned that day proved a very valuable addition to the 38 gained that season, with Forest finishing 16th.

During the summer, it was widely expected that a big-money striker would arrive on Trentside. Names such as Eddie Nketiah, Santiago Gimenez and Omar Marmoush were reportedly in talks, which all ultimately fell through. And while Taiwo Awoniyi is still regaining his fitness, the squad is light on strikers.

But while Wood is in the form of his life, it is working out rather well.

His all-time statistics speak for themselves; 76 goals in 236 Premier League appearances. Just 60 players have scored more times in the top flight than Wood, which prove Forest's number 11 is no flash in the pan.

Find more from Pat Riddell at The Famous Club, external

On the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, former Premier League striker Chris Sutton described Chris Wood as "one of the most underrated Premier League strikers he's ever seen".

Newcastle defender Dan Burn, a former team-mate of Wood - added that he does a lot of work that "the fans don't see" off the ball.

Listen to the full episode on BBC sounds

Liverpool are considering a move for Nottingham Forest's Brazilian centre-back Murillo, 22, but could face competition from Chelsea. (Teamtalk), external

Nottingham Forest have opened talks with 32-year-old New Zealand striker Chris Wood over a new contract. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

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

Tom Gayle
BBC Radio 5 live reporter at King Power Stadium

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Before the start of the season, you would be hard pushed to find a Nottingham Forest fan who wouldn't have Morgan Gibbs-White in their best starting XI. For many, he would probably be the first name on the team-sheet.

However, the performances of Elliot Anderson in the number 10 role during Gibbs-White's two-game absence won't have gone unnoticed by manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

During their wins over Crystal Palace and Leicester City, Anderson's attacking metrics of chances created, completed dribbles, touches in and passes into the opposition box, comfortably surpassed the totals he achieved in his previous seven Premier League appearances for the club.

Gary Neville was part of the Sky Sports punditry team at Leicester City and he described the 21-year-old as "a hell of a player" of whom "there is so much to like". The former England defender also added Anderson "will take some shifting", even when Gibbs-White returns from injury.

It doesn't appear to be a question of playing one or the other.

Anderson and Gibbs-White have started six of Forest's nine Premier League games together this season. Yet it is Gibbs-White who has played in the number 10 role during that time, producing the form which led to him making his England senior debut last month.

One of Anderson's strengths is his versatility. He played every midfield position possible during his time at Newcastle United, as well as being a winger on either flank.

Under Nuno, he has largely been used as a defensive or left midfielder, before being utilised in the number 10 role due to Gibbs-White’s ankle problem.

Three seasons ago, the then teenager Anderson was on loan at Bristol Rovers in League Two. A consistent spell as an attacking midfielder saw him score eight goals and provide five assists across 21 appearances for the club.

I spoke to other members of the media at the King Power Stadium, who watch Nottingham Forest week in week out, and they were unanimous in agreement that number 10 is his best position.

Gibbs-White travelled to Leicester with the squad and when I asked Nuno for an update on the club's record signing, he said: "He's getting better. Every day we have to assess him. So let's see if he is available for the next game."

The speed of his recovery will dictate whether there is even a debate to be had over Forest's first choice number 10, but Anderson has already staked a claim.

Image source, Getty Images

A Nottingham Forest-related question was put to BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty in Monday's Q&A.

Kevin asked: Hi Phil, amid a weekend of controversial VAR calls and late wins and equalisers, do you think the most underrated team at the moment is Nottingham Forest? A 3-1 East Midlands Derby win and up to seventh in the table with a fourth-place goalscorer in Chris Wood? I think they deserve so much more recognition for their achievements.

Phil answered: Hi Neil. Fully agree. Nottingham Forest deserve great praise for that they have done so far this season, although I do think they have been getting credit - and what a season Chris Wood is having.

Nuno has quietly put a Forest team together in exactly the way he likes. Solid defence, pace on the flanks and a central goal threat - very much like he did at Wolves.

The atmosphere at the City Ground is always special and it will be even better if Forest's form carries on.

Read more from the Q&A with Phil McNulty and the rest of Monday's football news

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Former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson says Nottingham Forest's start to the season has been "phenomenal" under manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

Forest sit in seventh, having taken 16 points from the first nine games, which is already a vast improvement on last season in which they finished 17th on 32 points - after a four point deduction.

"What a brilliant start they have had," said Robinson on the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast. "You can only give them credit for where they are.

"We are only nine games into the season but they are already halfway to last season's points total. That is phenomenal.

"Nuno all of a sudden seems to be the right fit for them. There is a lot of good feeling around Forest at the minute and Nuno has to take credit for that. The system and way they play is getting results and Chris Wood is scoring goals.

"Wood seems to be going on to the pitch each week knowing he can score goals and that is an incredible feeling for any player to have.

"But with success comes expectation, so what is the expectation or reality for this season? I think you just have to enjoy the ride."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

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Former Premier League striker Alan Shearer says Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood is "in the form of his life" after netting his sixth and seventh league goals of the season against Leicester City.

Speaking on Match of the Day, Shearer said: "He is unbelievable. He is in the form of his life. He is in the place where you're not hoping you are going to score goals, instead you actually know you're going to go out and score them.

"He is just full of confidence. He scored two very different goals against Leicester. For the first one, it is his movement to go into the box and get around the defenders, then his first touch and the swivel, then how he wraps his foot around the ball the way that he did.

"He had no other thought in his mind. He knew exactly where the goal was and there wasn't even one thought about passing it to anyone else. He just wanted to get the shot away - and why shouldn't he with the form he is in?

"For his second goal, he is just too strong for Wout Faes. His awareness of where he is, where the goalkeeper is and what he has to do is so impressive. It was a clever finish to just guide it in with his head, over the goalkeeper.

"It should be a great feeling for him."

Catch up on Match of the Day here

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's five Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Leicester City and Nottingham Forest.

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

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Aston Villa 1-1 Bournemouth

• Everton 1-1 Fulham

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We asked for your thoughts after Friday's Premier League game between Leicester City and Nottingham Forest.

Here are some of your comments:

Ian: First half, we played like we were attacking at home. To their credit, Leicester exploited the open play and looked dangerous, without really worrying our goalkeeper. Second half, we started so well and it knocked the stuffing out of Leicester. They lost their way, while we looked totally in control. I hope this run lasts!

Ashley: Once they matched Leicester in the midfield, there was only team equipped to win that game. A tougher run of games isn't too far away, so that was a massive three points!

Lewis: A dominant display and we should have had more goals, after hitting the woodwork a couple of times and Yates skying his shot from four yards out. We look a proper outfit this season and we are still improving. Hopefully we can solidify as a Premier League team now, in readiness for next season. That reminds me, I must check my passport!

Scott: It was ironic that Yates opened the scoring, because no manager did more for his game than Steve Cooper. Nuno is getting a chance to show everyone what a good manager he is. Fifth doesn't mean anything at this stage, but it is nice to see. The next three fixtures will give us some more clarity about where we really are - they are all established teams.

Ben: I have to keep pinching myself when I'm looking at where we are now compared with three years ago. I was so impressed with our second-half performance, and long may Chris Wood's scoring continue. The fact we keep accumulating points, without both MGW and Danilo, shows our depth and how good our recruitment has been. I can't believe Milenkovic was only £12m - what a steal!