Nottingham Forest will host Coventry on Saturday, 19 September, in a fifth-round Premier League fixture between two sides currently positioned in the lower half of the table.
Forest have made a steady, if unspectacular, start to the campaign, collecting five points from their opening four matches. Oliver Glasner’s team have won once, drawn twice and lost once, leaving them 11th in the standings with a goal difference of zero.
They have scored four goals and conceded four, a record that reflects a closely balanced opening to the season. Their latest victory ended a run of two draws and two defeats, giving Forest the opportunity to build momentum at home against the division’s bottom club.
Coventry’s return to the Premier League after promotion from the Championship has been considerably more difficult. Frank Lampard’s side have lost all four of their league matches and remain without a point.
The Sky Blues have also failed to score in any of those games, while conceding 10 goals. That record leaves Coventry at the foot of the table, although they are only two points from the safety zone.
The match therefore brings together a Forest side in mid-table and a Coventry team still seeking its first goal and point of the season. Forest’s recent win has improved their position, while Coventry arrive on a run of four consecutive defeats.
Head-to-head record
The clubs have met 97 times. Nottingham Forest have won 48 of those fixtures, compared with 21 victories for Coventry, while the remaining 28 matches ended in draws.
The historical record gives Forest a clear advantage, although the two teams’ current league positions and recent results also point towards the home side being favoured.
Bookmakers believe Nottingham Forest are the more likely winners.
Prediction
The forecast is for another difficult afternoon for Coventry, with Forest expected to control the match and keep a clean sheet.
The predicted score is Nottingham Forest 2-0 Coventry.