The City Ground will host an exciting Friday night encounter as Nottingham Forest take on Sheffield United in both teams’ second Premier League match of the 2022/23 season.
Having suffered defeats last weekend, Forest and the Blades will be hungry to get off the mark and earn their first points of the campaign.
Nottingham Forest Seeking First Win After Narrow Loss at Arsenal
In their first Premier League match since 1999, Nottingham Forest put up a spirited fight against Arsenal at the Emirates, going down 2-1 to the Gunners.
Despite seeing only 21% possession, Forest frustrated Arsenal for much of the game and were able to pull a goal back through substitute Taiwo Awoniyi in the 82nd minute after Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli had put the hosts 2-0 ahead.
Manager Steve Cooper was pleased with his side’s resilience, saying: “We stayed in the game, we took the game to the end and we scored a good goal. There were some real positives to take from the match.”
Forest will take heart from the fact they lost only five of their 19 home league matches last season, defeating Liverpool and drawing with Man City and Chelsea at the City Ground.
With new signings like Awoniyi, Morgan Gibbs-White and Ola Aina already settling in well, Cooper will feel his strengthened squad can build on last season’s home form and get their first win against Sheffield United.
Blades Blunted by Palace in Opening Match
Sheffield United’s return to the top flight got off to a rocky start last Saturday as they succumbed to a 1-0 home loss against Crystal Palace.
The Blades saw just 32% possession at Bramall Lane and only managed one shot on target compared to Palace’s eight.
Manager Paul Heckingbottom was left ruing his side’s lack of cutting edge, saying: “We got into some good areas but our quality wasn’t good enough.”
Having won automatic promotion from the Championship last season, United are still adjusting to the step up in quality and intensity demanded by the Premier League.
Heckingbottom has lost key attackers Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge in the transfer window but has so far been unable to bring in significant reinforcements.
With a lengthy injury list depleting their squad further, the Blades looked toothless in attack against Palace and could find it difficult to cope with Premier League opposition until new signings arrive.
Head-to-Head Record
Forest and Sheffield United last met in the Premier League in May 1993, with the Blades running out 2-0 winners at the City Ground.
Overall, United have won just one of their last 13 away league matches against Forest, pointing to a poor record for the Yorkshire club on their trips to Nottingham.
Key Stats and Facts
* Forest won their last 3 Premier League home games last season, showing their strength at the City Ground.
* Sheffield United have won just once in their last 17 opening away matches in the league.
* The Blades played out only 7 draws in the Championship last term – the fewest of any team.
Prediction
Will Forest’s Home Form Prevail?
Given their formidable home record last season and the way they troubled Arsenal at the Emirates, Forest will come into this match confident they can earn their first win.
The energetic City Ground crowd will boost the home side, while Cooper seems to have focused on making Forest hard to beat during the transfer window.
With Sheffield United looking vulnerable at the back in their opening match, the likes of Brennan Johnson and Morgan Gibbs-White could expose their defence.
Can Blades Blunt Forest’s Attack?
United struggled to create chances against Palace and their injury issues limit Heckingbottom’s options in attack.
If the visitors are to get anything from the City Ground, they will need to keep things tight defensively and hope their experienced players like Chris Basham and Oliver Norwood can produce something special in midfield.
However, keeping pace with Forest’s dynamic attack for 90 minutes will be a big ask for the Blades’ depleted squad.
Match Prediction
Given their superior squad depth, strong home form and dangerous attack, **Nottingham Forest** should have enough quality to earn their first win of the season.
Forest 2-0 Sheffield United odds 9.50 at bet365 (Odds are subject to fluctuation and are hereby only indicative, 18+)
The Blades’ lack of cutting edge could be brutally exposed by an energetic Forest team on their home turf, with Cooper’s men likely to dominate proceedings.
Goals from Brennan Johnson and Taiwo Awoniyi should be enough to sink United and give Forest the perfect start to their Premier League return at the City Ground.
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