Ipswich Town v Nottingham Forest: Why Are Forest Favourites?
Nottingham Forest are 6/5 favourites at Portman Road despite sitting 19th. We assess their away form, Gibbs-White’s return and the case for over 2.5 goals.
Nottingham Forest are 6/5 favourites at Ipswich Town despite sitting 19th: their away scoring record and Morgan Gibbs-White’s return give them a stronger case than the table suggests. Checked on 22 October 2026, this Premier League fixture kicks off at Portman Road at 20:00 BST on Friday 23 October.
At BCP we make over 2.5 goals at 8/11 the more convincing angle, with Ipswich conceding in every league match and Forest scoring in all three away games.
Ipswich Town v Nottingham Forest: when and where is it?
Friday 23 October 2026 · 20:00 BST · Portman Road · Premier League, matchweek 8. Sky Sports lists the match on Sky Sports Main Event HD, with coverage from 19:00. See our Premier League fixtures and previews for the rest of the round.
| Market | Selection | bet365 odds |
|---|---|---|
| Match result | Ipswich Town | 9/4 |
| Match result | Draw | 12/5 |
| Match result | Nottingham Forest | 6/5 |
| Both teams to score | Yes | 4/7 |
| Both teams to score | No | 5/4 |
| Total goals | Over 2.5 | 8/11 |
| Total goals | Under 2.5 | 11/10 |
Why are Forest favourites despite being 19th?
Forest’s away results give the clearest explanation. They drew 2–2 at Liverpool and won 2–1 at Aston Villa before losing 3–1 at Crystal Palace. All five of their league goals have come away from the City Ground; at home, they have drawn a blank in four matches.
That split matters more for this fixture than simply counting the nine places between the teams. Forest have already scored twice at Anfield and Villa Park, while Ipswich have conceded 15 goals in seven games. A trip to Portman Road gives Forest an opponent who has yet to keep a league clean sheet.
The price still asks plenty of them. Forest have lost their last three league games, and 6/5 implies roughly a 45.5% chance of winning before the bookmaker’s margin. We can see the case for making them favourites, but there’s a stronger argument for goals than for trusting them to take all three points.
| League record | Ipswich Town | Nottingham Forest |
|---|---|---|
| Position | 10th | 19th |
| Played | 7 | 7 |
| Points | 9 | 5 |
| Goals scored | 11 | 5 |
| Goals conceded | 15 | 9 |
Can Ipswich make home advantage count?
Ipswich have won two of their three league games at Portman Road, beating Sunderland and Fulham 2–1. Liverpool’s 2–0 win is their only home defeat. That makes the 9/4 home price worth comparing with Forest’s recent losses.
Gary O’Neil’s side have also scored 11 league goals, more than twice Forest’s total. Their latest outing ended in a 3–2 defeat at Manchester City, so the attacking threat survived a difficult away assignment. The problem is how often they need more than one goal to get a result.
Ipswich’s 15 conceded include five at Manchester United and three at Manchester City. Those two trips account for more than half the total; we shouldn’t treat that average as a prediction of what Forest will score here. At home, Ipswich have conceded four in three games. Forest will have to work for their chances.
What does the team news change?
Morgan Gibbs-White and Nikola Milenković are available to start for Forest, while Igor Jesus and Nicolò Savona remain out. Oliver Glasner’s 21 October update confirms Gibbs-White trained throughout the week after missing the Arsenal defeat with a knock.
Gibbs-White’s return gives Forest another way to create chances close to goal. Against Crystal Palace, his shot hit the crossbar and Liam Delap’s follow-up drew a save. He later had a header deflected onto the post. Those moments help explain why five goals in seven games may understate the threat Ipswich face.
Saša Lukić remains a doubt for Ipswich with a groin injury in the Premier League’s availability listing, checked on 22 October. His status matters to their midfield selection. We’re not treating either side’s likely starting XI as confirmed.
Where could Forest hurt Ipswich?
The run from the opposite wing-back is one route Ipswich need to watch. At Palace, Neco Williams delivered from the left and Daniel Muñoz arrived to meet it, putting his effort wide. The danger came from a runner beyond the central forward.
Our reading is that Ipswich need to track those arrivals while closing the space around Gibbs-White. If a wide defender follows the ball infield, the far-side runner can become harder to pick up. Forest showed both threats at Selhurst Park, even though they lost the match.
That defeat also supplies the warning against the away-win price: Forest led early, then conceded twice before half-time and again after the break. Creating openings and controlling the game are different tasks. Ipswich’s home results suggest they can punish that gap.
Ipswich Town v Nottingham Forest FAQs
The kick-off and bet365 prices are confirmed below; starting teams remain a matchday decision.
What time is Ipswich Town v Nottingham Forest on television?
Ipswich Town host Nottingham Forest at 20:00 BST on Friday 23 October 2026 at Portman Road. Sky Sports lists Main Event HD coverage from 19:00. The match takes place before the United Kingdom’s clocks change on Sunday 25 October.
Is Morgan Gibbs-White fit for the Ipswich trip?
Yes. Oliver Glasner confirmed on 21 October 2026 that Morgan Gibbs-White had trained all week and was available to start against Ipswich Town. Nikola Milenković is also available; Igor Jesus and Nicolò Savona remain unavailable. The starting XI is still to be announced.
What are bet365’s match-result odds?
At 14:01 BST on 22 October 2026, bet365’s United Kingdom prices were Ipswich Town 9/4, the draw 12/5 and Nottingham Forest 6/5. These are match-result odds for 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Odds are subject to change.
Bet365 betting angle
Over 2.5 goals at 8/11 is our angle. It needs at least three goals across the 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Ipswich’s last two matches produced three and five goals, and each of Forest’s three away league games has reached that line.
Forest’s returning creator adds to that case, while Ipswich’s home wins show they can contribute at the other end. Both teams to score at 4/7 is shorter and would also cover a 1–1 draw. We prefer the higher goals line at 8/11, although a 1–1 finish would lose that selection.
The strongest objection is Forest’s poor finishing: five goals in seven matches leaves little room to assume chances will become goals. Gibbs-White starting would strengthen our choice; an unexpected absence would weaken it. Those three away matches are useful context, but still a small sample.
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Sources: bet365, PL results, PL squads, Forest news, Forest report, Sky.
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