Fulham vs Nottingham Forest - Betting Tips & Predictions.

Craven Cottage 22 December - 20:00

Fulham

Nottingham

Recommended tip Win for Nottingham Forest

1: 2.36 X: 3.20 2: 3.10

1: 2.45 X: 3.20 2: 2.90

1: 2.40 X: 3.20 2: 3.00

#AD, 18+ T&C apply!

Step right up for a festive Monday night cracker as Fulham host Nottingham Forest at the atmospheric Craven Cottage. This isn’t just another Premier League fixture; it’s two sides scrapping for breathing space above the drop with more than pride at stake. Forest arrive on the back of a morale-boosting 3-0 at home to Tottenham, while Fulham have been rattled at the back — nine goals conceded in their last four. Expect a match with teeth.

Form, momentum and a dash of revenge make this one interesting. Fulham sit 15th, Forest 16th, and both managers will be acutely aware a win here could swing confidence and the league table before the New Year pile-up. There’s narrative too: recent head-to-heads have favoured Fulham, but the current mood and the odds suggest this could be a different kettle of fish.

If you’re chasing angle and insight, our Predictions and Tips are all about spotting the patterns the bookies might be underestimating. For a quick stop on markets and best prices, check the top football betting sites and then let’s break down why goals and an away shock look very much on the cards.

Odds and Predictions

Bookmakers make Fulham slight favourites, with odds of roughly 11/8 (2.38) on the home side, a draw at 23/10 (3.3) and Forest about 19/10 (2.9). Those numbers translate to an implied win probability favouring the home team, but not by a huge margin — the margins scream opportunity for punters who like value.

Look at the lines and you’ll see what the odds are saying: this is expected to be close, but tilted to Fulham. Yet form and attacking return tell another story. Nottingham Forest’s scoring streak and Fulham’s defensive wobble have us leaning towards an opener and a few more — hence our nod to over goals. Our predictions don’t shy away from risk: with Forest prolific of late, an away win is well within the realms of possibility.

In plain English: back goals. The markets for over 2.5 and each-team-to-score are offering some tasty value, and our tip is framed with that in mind. The bookies’ win probabilities are informative, but not definitive — especially when a side scoring freely meets another leaking goals. Expect entertainment, and expect the odd swing in live markets as the match unfolds.

From a betting perspective, keep an eye on early line-ups and any late team news that nudges the odds. If Fulham are missing key midfielders, that market will move quickly and you’ll see better value elsewhere.

Comparison and Statistics

Head to head (H2H) in recent Premier League meetings has favoured Fulham; they’ve taken five wins from six modern-era clashes. That stat will be flashed about by the home fans and pundits — but football isn’t played on paper. H2H gives context, not prophecy.

Crunching the numbers: Fulham have conceded nine in four, while scoring 11 across their last five overall outings. Forest have put at least two goals in five of their last eight fixtures. Put those facts together and you get a recipe for a high-scoring affair — especially at Craven Cottage, a ground that rewards attacking intent.

Form tables show both teams hovering just above the relegation zone with little to separate them on points. Momentum, though, is with Forest after that Spurs win and a more consistent defensive platform under Sean Dyche. Fulham’s recent results are a mixed bag — close losses and a heavy 5-4 against City that underlines both their attacking potential and defensive concerns.

Fulham: 9 goals conceded in last 4 games
Forest: at least 2 goals in 5 of last 8 matches
Fulham: 11 goals in last 5 outings

Expected Line-ups

Marco Silva will likely shuffle to cover absentees. With Alex Iwobi at AFCON, expect a midfield reshuffle — Sander Berge and Sasa Lukic are the likeliest pairing, offering grit and distribution. In goal, expect Leno; across the back a combination including Andersen and Tete, with attacking threats Wilson, Kevin and Jimenez given licence to probe Forest’s backline.

Predicted Fulham XI (likely): Leno; Tete, Andersen, Cuenca, Castagne; Lukic, Berge; Wilson, Rowe, Kevin; Jimenez. Silva’s system will try to press high but the lack of defensive cohesion could see them exposed on counters.

Sean Dyche’s Forest are often pragmatic and direct. After the Spurs rout their confidence will be high — expect a compact unit with pace in wide areas and a focal striker to punish any mistakes. Callum Hudson-Odoi’s recent form gives Dyche options to stretch Fulham’s defence.

Predicted Forest XI (likely): Sels; Savona, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Luiz, Anderson, Hutchinson; Gibbs-White, Ndoye; Jesus. Keep an eye on fitness and any late suspensions that could force tactical tweaks; if Dyche goes three at the back we could see a more conservative outing, but the attackers will still hunt space.

How Will the Season Pan Out?

This fixture is an early-season six-pointer in the relegation narrative. A Fulham win steadies the ship, pushes them further clear and buys Marco Silva time; a Forest win tightens the table and gives Dyche momentum to chase safety with conviction. For both clubs, December results shape January business and how aggressive they must be in the transfer window.

For Fulham, defensive solidity is the immediate concern. If the backline can be shored up and midfield shielding improved, they’ll be looking at mid-table safety by spring. Conversely, continued frailty invites pressure and could drag them into a late scramble.

Forest have shown they can score in bursts and Dyche’s organisational touch suggests they’ll be hard to beat come the business end. If they keep picking up wins and goals, European ambition is fanciful but a comfortable mid-table finish is realistic. The real story is survival — both need points, and this clash has winner-takes-sentiment overtones.

So where does that leave our tip? With Fulham shaky at the back and Forest firing up front, we’re putting our weight behind an away victory. That said, a draw with goals is hardly out of the question. For punters after value, the markets for over 2.5 goals and both teams to score are the tickets to consider.

Predictions and Tips are never guarantees, but with the H2H context, current form and the odds in mind, we expect goals and a lively contest — and we’ll back Nottingham Forest to nick the win.

Written by:

Mark Brown

Chief Statistician

Bio:

Football bores me to tears! I’m not interested in the Rooney’s and Ronaldo’s of the world, but I am interested in betting. With that in mind, I spend hours trawling through the statistics of the football markets and can usually come up with an angle which presents a viable betting opportunity.

Key contributions:

Chief statistician or Stato, as my colleagues like to call me

Personnel betting philosophy or quotes:

“Risk wisely, gain greatly”