Ipswich vs Nottingham Forest Prediction, Betting Tips & Preview

FreeOddsTips Verdict

Updated 22 Oct 2026

PredictionIpswich to Win

Best Odds3.25

Value BetBoth Teams to Score

Confidence★★★☆☆

Best available price · 18+ · Play responsiblyBet Ipswich to Win @ 3.25

Written by GüvenSports Betting & Product Specialist

Updated 22 October 2026 · 2 min read

Ipswich Town host Nottingham Forest at Portman Road on Friday night, with both clubs desperate to turn an uneven start to the Premier League season into something more convincing.

Gary O’Neil’s Ipswich sit 10th after taking nine points from seven games. Their results have been volatile, but the Tractor Boys have been far more competitive than their league position might imply, most recently pushing Manchester City all the way in a 3-2 defeat at the Etihad.

Forest arrive in 19th place and on a run of three league defeats. Oliver Glasner’s side were competitive against Arsenal last weekend, yet a familiar lack of finishing again cost them. They have scored only five league goals, even if all five have come away from the City Ground.

Our Ipswich vs Nottingham Forest prediction is Ipswich to Win at 3.25. Forest have the better recent head-to-head record, but Ipswich are playing with greater attacking freedom and have produced three home wins from five competitive matches this season.

Match Preview

Ipswich’s 3-4-2-1 has given them a clear attacking identity. Leif Davis and Abdoul Ouattara can push high from wing-back, while Julio Enciso and Daizen Maeda support the central striker quickly. That helped them score twice at Manchester City, and it should also create useful overloads against Forest’s own wing-back system.

Forest will be helped by Morgan Gibbs-White’s return and have enough transition threat through Dan Ndoye and Liam Delap to make this uncomfortable. However, their three-game losing run and shortage of goals are difficult to ignore. Ipswich have defensive issues of their own, so a tight game with chances at both ends is likely, but the hosts have shown more in attack and are worth backing to edge it.

View More Betting Tips

For more Premier League angles, read our Premier League betting guide and browse the latest football betting tips. You can also build a multi-market selection with our Today’s Bet Builder tips.

Our Best BetEditor’s Choice

Ipswich to Win

Ipswich have won three of five competitive home games
Forest have lost their last three league matches
Ipswich have scored in four of five home matches

Best Odds3.25Decimal

18+ · Gamble responsibly · BeGambleAware.orgBet Ipswich to Win @ 3.25

Why Ipswich to Win Makes Sense

Ipswich have been inconsistent, but their home results have been more encouraging than their overall record. They have won three of five competitive games at Portman Road, scoring nine times, and their attacking approach has remained positive even in difficult fixtures.

Forest are in a poor league run, with three consecutive defeats and only five goals across seven Premier League matches. Their performance against Arsenal showed that they can create openings, but conversion remains a major problem.

The 3.25 price reflects Forest's strong recent record in this fixture and their ability to threaten away from home. That creates a worthwhile price on the home win rather than requiring Ipswich to win by a margin.

Form & Recent Matches

Newest match first.

Ipswich

LWLLW

17 Oct 2026AManchester City
Premier League2-3L
10 Oct 2026HFulham
Premier League2-1W
19 Sep 2026AEverton
Premier League0-1L
15 Sep 2026HArsenal
League Cup2-4L
12 Sep 2026ACrystal Palace
Premier League3-2W

Nottingham Forest

LLLWD

18 Oct 2026HArsenal
Premier League0-1L
11 Oct 2026ACrystal Palace
Premier League1-3L
19 Sep 2026HCoventry City
Premier League0-1L
12 Sep 2026AAston Villa
Premier League2-1W
05 Sep 2026HTottenham Hotspur
Premier League0-0D

Match Statistics

Last 10 Matches

Ipswich4 W · 0 D · 5 L

1.78Avg goals scored

2.22Avg goals conceded

0/9Clean sheets

4Wins

0Draws

5Losses

Based on 9 completed matches (fewer than 10 available).

Nottingham Forest1 W · 2 D · 5 L

0.63Avg goals scored

1.38Avg goals conceded

1/8Clean sheets

1Wins

2Draws

5Losses

Based on 8 completed matches (fewer than 10 available).

GoalsBTTSHalf TimeClean SheetsForm

Statistic	Ipswich	Nottingham Forest
Avg goals scored	1.78	0.63
Avg goals conceded	2.22	1.38
Scored 0 goals	2/9	5/8
Scored 1 goal	0/9	1/8
Scored 2 goals	5/9	2/8
Scored 3+ goals	2/9	0/8
Conceded 0 goals	0/9	1/8
Conceded 1 goal	4/9	4/8
Conceded 2 goals	2/9	2/8
Conceded 3+ goals	3/9	1/8

Statistic	Ipswich	Nottingham Forest
BTTS — Yes	7/9	3/8
BTTS — No	2/9	5/8

Half-time data unavailable.

Statistic	Ipswich	Nottingham Forest
Clean sheets	0/9	1/8
Failed to keep a clean sheet	9/9	7/8

Ipswich

LWLLWLLWW

4 Wins · 0 Draws · 5 Losses

Nottingham Forest

LLLWDDLL

1 Wins · 2 Draws · 5 Losses

Newest match first.

Form Analysis

Recent Form

How both teams have been performing.

Ipswich

Home team

Form Outlook

Ipswich have had no draws in their first seven league games, which underlines how open their season has been. They have beaten Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Fulham, while their defeats have largely come against strong opposition including Liverpool, Manchester United, Everton and Manchester City.

The main concern is defensive. Ipswich have conceded in every league match, but their attacking output is credible: they scored twice at Manchester City and have found the net in four of five competitive home matches.

Nottingham Forest

Away team

Form Outlook

Forest have one win, two draws and four defeats from seven league matches, with three straight losses preceding this trip. The Arsenal defeat was frustrating because Forest created chances and had more shots on target than the champions, but they still failed to score.

Their away record offers encouragement. Forest have scored in each of their three competitive trips this season, including at Liverpool and Aston Villa, but conceding six goals across those games leaves them exposed against an Ipswich side that attacks with numbers.

Team News

Squad Update

Latest squad information before kick-off.

Ipswich

Home team

Squad Status

Sasa Lukic is the key late fitness issue after missing Manchester City with a minor groin complaint. Gary O'Neil expected him to be available for Forest, but Florentino is the direct midfield alternative if Lukic is not cleared.

Abdul Fatawu had completed his one-match suspension before the City match. Azor Matusiwa and Jack Taylor have also returned to availability, while O'Neil had indicated that Ipswich were close to full strength.

Nottingham Forest

Away team

Squad Status

Morgan Gibbs-White is available after training during the week following the issue that kept him out against Arsenal. Nikola Milenkovic is also fit again and can challenge for a place in the back three.

Igor Jesus and Nicolo Savona are unavailable. Liam Delap is expected to lead the line, with Chris Wood and Arnaud Kalimuendo alternative attacking options from the squad.

Tactical Analysis

Tactical Outlook

IpswichHome

Tactical matchup

Nottingham ForestAway

Tactical Outlook

Both managers have recently favoured a 3-4-2-1, so the wing-back battle should shape the match. Ipswich can use Davis and Ouattara to pin back Daniel Munoz and Neco Williams, while Enciso and Maeda will try to find space either side of Forest's central defenders.

Forest are likely to accept periods without the ball and target quick breaks through Gibbs-White, Ndoye and Delap. That route has real potential because Ipswich have not kept a league clean sheet, particularly if the home wing-backs are caught high.

Ipswich should have the stronger territorial spell at Portman Road. Their priority will be controlling Forest's first transition after losing possession, with Palacios and the likely returning Lukic needing to stop Gibbs-White receiving and turning between the lines.

H2H

Head-to-Head

Previous meetings between the two teams.

15 Mar 2025Premier LeagueVenue: IpswichIpswich2–4Nottingham Forest
03 Mar 2025FA CupVenue: Nottingham ForestIpswich1–1Nottingham Forest

Expected Starting XI

Team Lineups

Projected starting lineups for both teams.

IpswichFormation 3-4-2-1

Nottingham ForestFormation 3-4-2-1

Players to Watch

Key Players

Players who could have an important influence on the match.

Ipswich

Home team

Julio EncisoAM
Ipswich's leading league creator has two assists and can find space behind Forest's midfield line.
Daizen MaedaAM
Scored at Manchester City and gives Ipswich pace to attack the channels after regains.
Leif DavisLWB
Has two league goals and one assist from the left, making him a major wide threat.
EmersonnST
The likely starting striker has two league goals and can occupy Forest's back three.
Exequiel PalaciosCM
His passing from midfield will be central to Ipswich sustaining attacks.

Nottingham Forest

Away team

Morgan Gibbs-WhiteAM
Forest's captain and main creator returns at an important time for their attack.
Dan NdoyeAM
Forest's leading league scorer with two goals and a direct threat in transition.
Liam DelapST
Has scored once in the league and is likely to lead Forest's pressing and counter-attacks.
Xaver SchlagerCM
Brings defensive intensity in midfield and made 14 defensive actions against Arsenal.
MurilloCB
His distribution and defensive work are important when Forest play out from the back.

What the Numbers Tell Us

Data Insight

What the recent numbers suggest about the matchup.

Our Reading of the Data

Ipswich's games have been open. Their nine available competitive matches this season have produced 16 goals scored and 20 conceded, with seven going over 2.5 goals and seven seeing both teams score. They have not kept a clean sheet in that run.

Forest have scored only five league goals, but every one of those came away from the City Ground. They have found the net in all three competitive away fixtures, including a 2-2 draw at Liverpool and a 2-1 win at Aston Villa.

That combination supports the predicted 2-1 scoreline. Ipswich have the stronger home attacking evidence, while Forest's away scoring record makes a home clean sheet difficult to trust.

Final Verdict

Editorial

Our ConclusionIpswichvsNottingham Forest

Ipswich have flaws, chiefly their inability to keep clean sheets, but they have been the more positive and productive side in recent weeks. Their performance in scoring twice at Manchester City followed a home win over Fulham and showed that O'Neil's side can carry a threat against strong opponents.

Forest should be more dangerous with Gibbs-White available again, and their away record means they can score. However, three consecutive league defeats and their shortage of finishing make Ipswich to Win at 3.25 the selection. A 2-1 home victory fits the attacking patterns of both teams.