The last fixture of the FA Cup’s fifth round puts Nottingham Forest against Ipswich with the winner of that game set to face Brighton in the quarter finals. For both teams this is the best chance for silverware this season, especially given the many surprises in this edition of the tournament and the teams that are still in it.
Nottingham Forest Team News
Nottingham Forest is enjoying a sublime season and even though results in recent weeks haven’t been exactly good, the team is still third and heavily involved in the battle for the UCL spots. A deep run in the FA Cup is also something the team can be proud of and given the fact that only Manchester City is still left on the competition from the so-called big teams, the chances for a trophy increase dramatically. Forest is also a team that has made the most out of their home fixtures and is currently on an 8-game unbeaten streak at home. The last time Nottingham tasted defeat as hosts was against Newcastle in early November. Ipswich will also pose the first Premier League adversary that Forest will face in the FA Cup this year.
Ipswich Team News
Ipswich’s survival in the Premier League is under severe jeopardy, hence why it won’t surprise anybody if the team put an extra shift in the FA Cup in the hopes of potentially winning a trophy. Much like Nottingham, Ipswich have also only faced opponents from the lower levels of the English football system. Where issues arise for The Tractor Boys is their uninspiring form away from home – just 1 win from the team’s last 6 travels across all competitions. That victory came in the previous round of the FA Cup against Coventry City, but Nottingham Forest is a much better team. Additionally, Kieran McKenna’s boys will head to City Ground on the back of a 3-2 loss against Manchester United in which The Red Devils played the entire second half plus the closing minutes of the first with a man down.
Head-to-Head-Games
Ipswich don’t fancy travelling to Nottingham as they don’t have a win there in the 21st century. The last time The Tractor Boys won at City Ground was in 1999. Since then Nottingham Forest has dominated Ipswich as hosts, winning the last 4 consecutive games played at their home stadium.
Nottingham Forest – Ipswich Betting Prediction
I think that this will be a close battle, but Nottingham Forest will emerge with the win. They are stellar hosts and despite being involved in the battle for the UCL spots, the FA Cup provides a chance for a trophy and I reckon the team will do its best to reach as far as possible. The same applies for Ipswich as well – while their survival in the Premier League hangs in the balance, the FA Cup provides an outlet for a potential trophy challenge. However, The Tractor Boys don’t seem to fare well on their away matches and certainly don’t seem to be doing well when visiting Nottingham.
Betting Tip: Nottingham Forest To Win
Bookmaker: BC.Game
Odds: 1.68
BC.Game
Place your bet on Nottingham Forest – Ipswich at BC.Game