Nottingham Forest vs. West Ham Betting Tips: Two tips as Premier League football returns to Nottingham after 23 years

Premier League football returns to Nottingham for the first time this century this weekend, as West Ham swap the Thames for the Trent to take on Forest - live on Super Sunday.

It’s been a long 23-year wait for fans of The Reds, who finally tasted promotion last year after 14 consecutive seasons in the Championship, even enduring three years in League One. Their return to the top flight was met with utter contempt by Newcastle United on the opening day however, with Fabian Schär and Callum Wilson both contributing wonderful goals as the Magpies won 2-0 in a game they dominated.

Now there’s a chance for Forest to really announce themselves on the big stage and The City Ground looks likely to be packed to the rafters for the visit of David Moyes’ West Ham side, though the visitors are unlikely to play a willing role in the pleasantries. A 2-0 defeat at the hands of reigning Champions Manchester City meant a frustrating, if inevitable, start to the season for the Hammers - who are looking to push on from an impressive 7th placed finish last term and break into that ‘top 6’.

They’ll be hopeful to have at least one centre-back option available to partner Kurt Zouma in the middle, though £30m summer signing Nayef Aguerd remains sidelined. Fellow pre-season addition Maxwel Cornet could feature having not been registered in time to face City, while £30m former Sassuolo striker Gianluca Scamacca will be hopeful of more minutes.

Of the 12 signings that Nottingham Forest have made, both Taiwo Awoniyi and Orel Mangala will be pushing to join the six that started against Newcastle, whilst midfield ever-present Ryan Yates faces a late fitness test to be involved.

One of those six that started against Newcastle was former West Ham forward Jesse Lingard, who snubbed a return to East London in favour of Steve Cooper’s project. On loan from Manchester United he notched nine goals and five assists in claret and blue, earning himself a recall to the England squad, and he’ll be desperate to do the same ahead of the World Cup in Qatar.

With a ferocious atmosphere expected at the City Ground, for what is a monumental occasion for one half of Nottingham, there is always potential for passion to cross the line. The hosts were one of the worst sides in the Championship when it came to home bookings last term, picking up at least two in almost 70% of their games (the 3rd highest mark in the division).

Though the personnel are somewhat different this season, the intensity demanded by Steve Cooper remains the same - as was clear against Newcastle last weekend. His side picked up three cards at St. James’ Park, which included one apiece for new additions Neco Williams and Lewis O’Brien, who joined from Liverpool and Huddersfield in the summer respectively.

The first of those three cards was handed to this man however, who is no stranger to the atmosphere at the City Ground.

Joe Worrall earned himself a 15th minute telling off from referee Simon Hooper in their opening game, and 5/1 on him doing the same here is too good to pass up. He picked up eight in 39 starts in the Championship last term, and the step up to the Premier League could prove to be one too far for his discipline.

Taking charge of this one is English referee Robert Jones who dished out 84 bookings in his 26 games last season - at an average of 3.23 per 90. He also booked Worrall in a game against Sheffield Wednesday back in 2020 so the pair have previous.