Premier League: Nottingham Forest Could Wield the Axe on Ange

Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea

Ange Postecoglou will stay in charge as Nottingham Forest manager for their Premier League clash against Chelsea this Saturday, but there’s a chance that he could be sacked if reports are to be believed.

Nottingham Forest are already on their second manager of the season so far after owner Evangelos Marinakis sacked Nuno Espirito Santo last month due to their contentious work relationship. Nuno eventually took the West Ham United job, replacing Graham Potter. Since then, the Tricky Trees dropped 17th in the English top-flight standings with only five points.

Chelsea are above Nottingham Forest by 10 places with 11 points. Enzo Maresca’s side recently broke their three-game winless run with a 2-1 win against Liverpool, and a win here could see them back in the Top 4.

With that said, this is a must-win game for both sides at City Ground, more so for Postecoglou.

 

Talking Points

Postecoglou’s system hasn’t worked for Nottingham Forest

Ange Postecoglou is on the hot seat, as Nottingham Forest have yet to win a game under him, with five losses and two draws across all competitions. The Tricky Trees are also out of the EFL Cup after losing 3-2 to Swansea in the third round, despite holding a 2-0 lead heading into the second half, and are 25th in the Europa League standings with a solitary point.

Postecoglou has come under fire for his playing style, as Nottingham Forest veered away from their conservative approach under Nuno Espirito Santo to an aggressive, swashbuckling style. Under him, Nottingham Forest switched from a 4-2-3-1 to a 3-4-3 formation, severely compromising their defensive solidity, causing them to concede 15 goals during their barren run. Key players like Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood have struggled to adapt to Postecoglou’s tactical shift, while injuries to Douglas Luiz, Ola Aina, and Oleksandr Zinchenko also didn’t help. 

According to reports, owner Evangelos Marinakis will be watching this match closely to see how the team responds against Chelsea, and it’s possible it could be the last time we see Postecoglou in the City Ground dugout. Former Burnley and Everton boss Sean Dyche and Rafa Benitez are candidates for the job if Postecoglou loses it.

 

Chelsea’s defensive crisis has eased up

The October international break certainly helped Chelsea ahead of the Nottingham Forest match, as their absentee list has eased up. 

Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, and Levi Colwill were all unavailable against Liverpool due to injuries, while Trevoh Chalobah served his suspension, leaving the team without a natural centre-back. Josh Acheampong also suffered a minor injury, but he started for England’s U21 team in a 4-0 win over Moldova on Friday.

Fast forward to today, and Fofana has completed his concussion protocol, and Chalobah’s suspension has been lifted. Adarabioyo has been upgraded to questionable, while Colwill and Benoit Badiashile are expected to remain in the medical room.

Meanwhile, Enzo Fernandez hurt his knee while playing for Argentina, joining fellow midfielder Cole Palmer on the sidelines. This could mean more playing time for Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.

 

History

Nottingham Forest have won just one of their last eight Premier League matches against Chelsea (D3, L4), with their last win being a 1-0 result at Stamford Bridge in September 2023. The Tricky Trees have also lost five of their last seven Premier League matches at City Ground (W1, D1), which is as many as their previous 22 (W11, D6). They could lose three straight home league matches for the first time since December 2023 (L4).

Chelsea have won three of their last four Premier League away matches against Nottingham Forest (D1), including both of their last two in a row. The Blues have never won three consecutive away league matches against the Tricky Trees. They’ve won just three of their last 14 Premier League away matches (D4, L7).

 

Betting Tip

The Premier League 2025 odds expect Chelsea to add to Nottingham Forest’s woes this weekend. The Blues are 1.92 favourites to win, whereas the Tricky Trees are pegged at 3.48, and a draw is at 3.41 in the 1X2 market.

Besides going for another positive result for Chelsea, SBOTOP bettors can also expect these two sides to create new Premier League 2025 highlights, making alternatives such as Over 2.50 at 1.70, Over 2.75 at 1.90, and Total Goal 2-3 at 2.03 viable to add to the parlay. Furthermore, a Correct Score of 1-0 in favour of the Blues – the result of their last league encounter – offers a robust payday of 8.40 your bet.

   

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