Friday Night Football in the Premier League is back this week with Ipswich vs Nottingham Forest.
Action at Portman Road is the beginning of Matchday 8 in the 2026-27 season and these two teams are separated by four points ahead of kick-off.
Surprisingly, it is newly-promoted Ipswich who sit higher in the table, with Forest currently second from bottom and struggling to really get going under the rule of Oliver Glasner.
So this is a huge match for the Tricky Trees, while Ipswich and Gary O’Neil can look to maintain their position in the top half of the standings.
Our full preview is available to view below, with sports betting tips and the latest Premier League odds.
And this weekend marks another opportunity to play NetBet Sport’s exciting Pick 6 game. Predict the scores in the selected matches, earn points and be in with a chance to win prizes!
Where can I watch Ipswich vs Nottingham Forest in the UK?
Ipswich vs Nottingham Forest will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm UK time.
Ipswich vs Nottingham Forest Preview
Recent results
Ipswich lost 3-2 at table-toppers Manchester City last weekend, though collected a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Fulham in their previous home outing. The Tractor Boys defeated Sunderland by the same scoreline in the season opener, though did lose 2-0 to Liverpool in front of their own fans.
Nottingham Forest suffered a third consecutive Premier League loss last weekend vs Arsenal (0-1), having previously been beaten by Coventry (0-1) and Crystal Palace (3-1). The Tricky Trees’ sole top-flight win this season came at Aston Villa (1-2), which followed a 2-2 draw at Liverpool. Glasner’s men have been far better in terms of results and goals scored on the road, with not a single strike tallied on home soil as of yet.
Head-to-head record
These two sides have met just twice on the Premier League stage in the 21st century.
Forest won 1-0 at the City Ground in November 2024, before claiming a 4-2 victory at Portman Road in March 2025.
Across all competitions, Forest lost just one of the last nine games against Ipswich, winning seven of those contests.
Team news
Sasa Lukic is the only injury doubt for Ipswich ahead of kick-off on Friday, which is a huge boost for manager O’Neil and his coaching staff.
Igor Jesus and Nicolo Savona look set to miss out for Forest once again, though there is hope that talisman Morgan Gibbs-White can return to the fold after missing the defeat to Arsenal with a minor injury.
Ipswich vs Nottingham Forest Odds
*All odds are subject to change
Despite being higher in the table prior to kick-off, Ipswich are slight underdogs at a price of 3.00. A win for Nottingham Forest is at odds of 2.25, while the draw is 3.31.
Ipswich vs Nottingham Forest Betting Tips
Both teams to score – Yes @ 1.55
Forest’s away matches this season have been action-packed, in stark contrast to the four top-flight contests at the City Ground – which comprises two 0-0 draws and a pair of 1-0 defeats. BTTS landed in all three of their away trips, while the selection was also a winner in seven of Ipswich’s nine games across all competitions.
Total goals – Over 2.5 @ 1.67
Over 2.5 goals were scored in all of Forest’s away games in 2026-27, as was the case in four of Ipswich’s last five matches at Portman Road. A high-scoring affair to commence the Premier League weekend? Yes please!
Anytime goalscorer – Dan Ndoye @ 3.45
With such great odds on offer, it feels worth taking a punt on Ndoye to score in his third away match of the campaign. The Swiss forward netted at Liverpool and Palace, the only blank on the road coming in the win at Villa Park. Ipswich are yet to keep a clean sheet this season, so Forest’s top attack-minded players should fancy their chances here.
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