Nottingham Forest vs Ipswich Town - Preview, prediction, team news and lineups

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·28 February 2025

Nottingham Forest vs Ipswich Town - Preview, prediction, team news and lineups

Nottingham Forest are unbeaten in four meetings with Ipswich, with the Tractor Boys winless in 15 visits to the City Ground, losing each of the last four, dating back to 1999.

Nottingham Forest vs Ipswich Town Preview

Nottingham Forest are currently the highest-ranked team left in this season's FA Cup, so can they win the competition for the first time since 1959, this the trophy that infamously eluded Brian Clough. To reach round five, the Garibaldi Reds have so far swatted aside Luton and then battled beyond Exeter, held to a 2-2 draw in Devon before sneaking through on penalties, the match concluding over three hours after it had kicked off.

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Meanwhile, in the Premier League, Nuno Espírito Santo's side are dreaming of the Champions League, still third, despite their recent mixed result. On Wednesday night, Forest played out a rather drab goalless draw with Arsenal at the City Ground. In truth, very little happened, but this was a point in the right direction for the hosts. However, Nuno's team have now won only one of their last five, having been unbeaten in eight beforehand, facing Man City in a massive match next Saturday lunchtime. Before then, will Forest reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for only the second time since 1996?

Ipswich Town meantime got their hands on this trophy in 1978, Sir Bobby Robson leading them to glory at Wembley, but are now aiming to reach the last eight for the first time in 32 years. The Tractor Boys have so far swatted aside both Bristol Rovers and Coventry by three-goal margins, with Jack Clarke scoring thrice across the two ties.

However, Kieran McKenna's team are still yet to win in the Premier League in 2025, yielding a miserly two points from eight outings, most-recently beaten 3-2 at Old Trafford by ten-man Man United on Wednesday; Jaden Philogene's first half brace ultimately in vain. The Blues therefore remain in the relegation zone, five points from safety, and will welcome Forest to Suffolk in just 12 days time. Before then, who will book their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals come Monday night?

Nottingham Forest vs Ipswich Town Head-to-Head Record

Matches Played: 80.

Nottingham Forest Wins: 40. Draws: 19. Ipswich Town Wins: 22.

Nottingham Forest Team News

All of Nuno Espírito Santo's outfield players are fit and available but, with Man City to come on Saturday, he's likely to heavily rotate here, as he has done in the previous two rounds. Back-up goalkeeper Carlos Miguel is sidelined due to a hamstring injury suffered at Exeter, so will Matz Sels be donning the gloves, or could Wayne Hennessey, who rejoined the club in January, make his first appearance, for club or country, since starting a friendly against Gibraltar 509 days ago?

Elsewhere, Ibrahim Sangaré, Danilo and Ryan Yates will come into midfield, while Taiwo Awoniyi will lead the attack, his first start since suffering a nasty concussion in round four.

Nottingham Forest predicted lineup vs Ipswich Town: (4-3-3): Sels; da Silva Moreira, Boly, Morato, Moreno; Sangaré, Yates, Danilo; Ramón Sosa, Jota Silva, Awoniyi.

Nottingham Forest Player to Watch vs Ipswich Town

Taiwo Awoniyi has only two goals to his name this season, but did bag 17 across his first two Forest campaign so, likely to lead the line, can the Nigerian rediscover his best form?

Ipswich Town Team News

We're pretty certain Nuno will make wholesale changes, but we're less sure what Kieran McKenna will do, although he does have plenty of options. With Christian Walton sidelined and Arijanet Muriç out of favour, Alex Palmer is likely to start a fifth successive match in goal.

Julio Enciso, who'd be cup-tied in any case, Chiedozie Ogbene and Wes Burns are all injured, but Sammie Szmodics could return out-wide, starting for the first time since scoring at Coventry in round four. He would come in for Omari Hutchinson, who's out due to a knee injury suffered at Old Trafford.

Ipswich Town Player to Watch vs Nottingham Forest

Jaden Philogene scored twice at Man United on Wednesday, having opened his Ipswich account at Coventry in round four, so he's likely to be the primary goal threat come Monday night.

Nottingham Forest vs Ipswich Town Prediction

Even if they do make wholesale changes as expected, we're still backing Forest to make home advantage count and get through at the City Ground: Nottingham Forest 2-0 Ipswich Town.