Ipswich Town vs Nottingham Forest Preview

Portman Road welcomes a Nottingham Forest side in the Premier League’s bottom three on Friday night, with Ipswich Town four points ahead in 10th. Ipswich lost 3-2 away at Manchester City on Saturday, while Forest are 19th on five points and have lost their last three league games, the latest a 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal on Sunday. Both clubs have played seven games and both carry a goal difference of -4. Forest have not lost to Ipswich in any of the five meetings on record, winning three and drawing two. A Forest win would lift them out of the bottom three. Kick-off in Ipswich is at 8pm UK time.

Ipswich Town’s last five read W2 L3, with nine goals scored and 11 conceded. The latest was Saturday’s 3-2 defeat away at Manchester City, a game in which Ipswich scored twice but still lost. Before that, Fulham were beaten 2-1 at Portman Road on 10 October. Further back, Everton won 1-0 against Ipswich on 19 September, Arsenal won 4-2 at Portman Road in the EFL Cup on 15 September, and Ipswich won 3-2 away at Crystal Palace on 12 September. Ipswich conceded in all five games and failed to score only once, in the Everton defeat. Their two home games in the sample brought one win and one defeat.

Nottingham Forest’s last five read W1 D1 L3, with three goals scored and six conceded. Sunday’s 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League is the latest, and it is the third defeat in a row. Before that, Crystal Palace won 3-1 against Forest on 11 October, and Coventry won 1-0 at the City Ground on 19 September. Further back, Forest won 2-1 away at Aston Villa on 12 September, their only victory of the five, and drew 0-0 at home with Tottenham on 5 September. Forest failed to score in three of the five games, and they have kept just one clean sheet, in the goalless draw with Tottenham.

Forest are unbeaten in the five meetings listed, with three wins to Ipswich’s none and two draws, and the goals read 9-4 in their favour. The most recent was Forest’s 4-2 win at Portman Road on 15 March 2025, and before that the sides drew 1-1 in the FA Cup on 3 March 2025, with Forest winning 5-4 on penalties. At Portman Road itself, the sample shows that 4-2 Forest win and a 1-1 draw on 16 March 2019, so Ipswich have not beaten Forest on their own ground in the last 5 games. Forest also won 1-0 at home on 30 November 2024.

Ipswich are 10th in the Premier League on nine points with a goal difference of -4, and Nottingham Forest are 19th on five points, also on -4. A win would take Forest to eight points, level with Newcastle United and Aston Villa.

In the UK, the match is live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with Sky Go UK, NOW and SKY GO Extra streaming. Viewers in the USA can watch on USA Network, while in Canada it’s on DAZN Canada, fuboTV Canada and Fubo Sports Network Canada. In Ireland, Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League carry the game.

Possible Lineups

Ipswich Town — Form

Nottingham Forest — Form

Head to Head

Where to Watch

Table

Premier League Standings