(Football news) In mid-November, the two clubs faced off in a thrilling five-goal match at the London Stadium. The Hammers emerged victorious 3-2 thanks to a goal from Tomas Soucek in the 88th minute.
Nottingham Forest lost 3-2 at home to Newcastle United in the Premier League last weekend, extending their winless streak in the top level to four games, three days after narrowly defeating Bristol City on penalties to advance to the FA Cup fifth round.
Nottingham Forest fought back twice in the first half as strikes from Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi cancelled out goals from Magpies duo Bruno Guimaraes and Fabian Schar, but the hosts were eventually condemned to their 13th league loss of the season courtesy of a 66th-minute strike from Guimaraes.
Since the beginning of November, no team have lost more Premier League games than Nottingham Forest (nine, level with Brentford and Burnley), with manager Nuno Espirito Santo yet to put his stamp on a side who currently sit 16th in the table and just two points above the relegation zone.
The Tricky Trees have looked vulnerable at the back ever since they returned to the Premier League, keeping just 11 clean sheets in their last 62 matches – the fewest of any ever-present top-flight team since the start of last season – while they have conceded in each of their last 13 games this term since beating Aston Villa 2-0 on home soil in November.
Nottingham Forest enter Saturday’s contest having lost six of their last seven league games on home soil as well as their last two meetings with West Ham, but their 1-0 victory over the Hammers at the City Ground last season should provide Nuno’s men with an element of confidence.
West Ham is yet to celebrate victory in any of their first seven games since the start of the year, including three draws and back-to-back losses by an aggregate score of 9-0 in the Premier League. This is in contrast to their stellar finish to 2023, when they won nine out of 13 games in all competitions.
The Hammers’ humiliating 6-0 home loss to London rivals Arsenal last weekend came after a 3-0 away loss to Manchester United. In their league history, the only other time they had lost by a six-goal margin was against Blackburn Rovers (8-2) in December 1963.
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