Nottingham Forest vs Bournemouth

City Ground forms the backdrop for an all-promoted Premier League clash between Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth.

Despite landing a host of new players over the summer, Nottingham Forest’s bid to avoid a swift return to the EFL Championship has been off to a slow start. Except for an unexpected 1-0 home win over West Ham United on matchday two, the ‘Tricky Trees’ have gone winless in their remaining four Premier League fixtures (D1, L3). More importantly, Steve Cook’s men have conceded nine consecutive goals without reply in the build-up to this clash. Bournemouth’s upcoming visit to the City Ground won’t make things better, as Cook’s lads are winless in their last four league H2Hs (D1, L3), including defeats in both Championship clashes in 2021/22. Cook will be keen to arrest that run and avoid losing consecutive home league outings for the first time at the helm of Forest.

On the other hand, Bournemouth’s 2-0 home victory over Aston Villa on the opening weekend already looks like a distant memory. But a goalless home draw with Wolverhampton in midweek Premier League action at least served to snap their disastrous three-match losing league streak. Last season, the ‘Cherries’ claimed a 2-1 win in this corresponding fixture, marking their first-ever away league triumph over Forest at the ninth time of asking (D4, L4). However, Gary O’Neil’s men are unlikely to replicate that success, considering they’ve suffered 14 defeats in their last 16 Premier League matches on hostile turf (W2), including both this season via an aggregate score of 13-0! A lack of firepower up front has seen Bournemouth produce fewer shots (26) and fewer attempts on target (9) than any other Premier League club this season.