Recent opinion on Nottingham Forest’s battle for survival in the Premier League, with only seven games remaining to secure their place in the top flight.
With just seven games remaining in the Premier League, Nottingham Forest finds themselves in the thick of the relegation battle. Their crucial 3-1 victory over Fulham on Tuesday provided a much-needed boost, placing them three points clear of the relegation zone.
However, the urgency to secure more points has escalated in recent weeks, particularly after the club was penalized four points for violating the league’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Although Forest intends to appeal the penalty, the risk of further deduction looms large, keeping them in a precarious position in the league standings. NottinghamshireLive has assessed the difficulty of the Reds’ remaining fixtures, ranking them from toughest to most favorable based on paper matchups.
1) Hosting Manchester City
It’s a clear choice. The reigning champions and winners of three titles are expected to remain motivated when they visit the City Ground on April 28 in pursuit of a historic fourth consecutive Premier League championship. Forest managed a commendable 1-1 draw against Pep Guardiola’s team in the previous season’s fixture. However, the Reds were predominantly on the defensive during that match, so securing another draw would be considered a positive outcome.
2) Tottenham (Away)
Next up for Forest is a match against Tottenham Hotspur, who are vying for a spot in the top four and currently sit just two points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa. Forest has struggled on the road since entering the Premier League, so Sunday’s match against Tottenham is likely to present another tough challenge.
3) Forest will then face Everton away from home, in what could be another tough encounter.
Despite their current 13-game winless streak in the Premier League, Everton could still pose a challenge for Forest when they visit Goodison Park on April 21. Additionally, there’s ongoing uncertainty regarding Everton’s potential second charge for breaching PSR, which could lead to further points deductions, heightening their urgency for points.
4) Chelsea will be the opponents for Nottingham Forest at the City Ground in their next fixture.
Chelsea, currently positioned in mid-table, retain a possibility of securing a spot in European competitions. Although their circumstances might change by the time they clash with Forest on May 11, they possess the talent to pose a challenge at the City Ground.
5) At the City Ground, Forest will face Wolves next.
Gary O’Neil’s team has experienced a decline in form recently, securing only one victory since February. Despite this, they have shown significant improvement throughout the season. However, as this is one of only two remaining home fixtures for Forest, securing three points is crucial.
6) Forest will face Burnley away in their sixth fixture.
Burnley’s form has slightly improved lately, as they have not suffered a defeat since early March. However, they are still six points away from safety, having only secured one victory since Christmas.
7) Forest’s final fixture sees them face Sheffield United away from home.
Under Chris Wilder’s management, Sheffield United appear destined for relegation, having secured only three victories in the league throughout the season. If Nottingham Forest fail to secure a win at Bramall Lane on May 4, it might be indicative of their fate in the relegation battle.