Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest predictions and betting tips – Giant killing in offing?

Fighting for their Premier League lives and aiming to qualify for the knockout phase of the Europa League, Nottingham Forest do not have the FA Cup very high on their list of priorities for this season.

Wrexham will be determined to make an impression against a top-flight team.

Can they cause an upset against Sean Dyche’s side, or will Forest have too much for their Championship opponents?

• Tip Wrexham to qualify – 2/1 with 247Bet
• Go for over 2.5 goals – 4/5 with BetMGM
• Select Nathan Broadhead to score any time – 4/1 with Sky Bet

Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest odds

Find the latest Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakers and are subject to change.

Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest predictions

Crystal Palace’s success in the FA Cup last season gives hope to non-elite Premier League sides that they too can go all the way in the world’s oldest knockout competition.

Ordinarily, Nottingham Forest might make this tournament a priority in their fourth season back in the top tier. 

Despite their remarkable period of success under Brian Clough, which saw the East Midlanders win a league title, two European Cups and four League Cups, Forest’s greatest ever manager never got his hands on this particular trophy.

Forest have won the FA Cup twice before, in 1898 and 1959, but only a small group of their supporters will remember that second victory. How Forest fans would love to see their team go all the way this term, not least after their semi-final appearance in 2024/25.

However, there are two reasons to believe Forest will not make the FA Cup a priority this season.

The first concerns their position in the Premier League. Despite a massive 2-1 victory over West Ham United on Tuesday, Forest are not out of danger yet.

That win at the London Stadium, secured thanks to a late Morgan Gibbs-White penalty, has given Sean Dyche’s side some much-needed breathing space above the bottom three.

Forest now have a seven-point buffer over 18th place and they will fancy their chances of securing another season of Premier League football from here.

Having said that, Forest are still only one spot above the dreaded dotted line. It is hard to imagine right now, but it is not beyond the realms of possibility that an improving West Ham or Burnley (perhaps under new management) could string back-to-back wins together to plunge Forest right back into trouble. 

The second reason why Forest will not go all-out in the FA Cup is the Europa League. They are on course to reach the knockout phase of that tournament, either via the play-offs or by securing a direct route to the last 16.

If Forest have room for one more competition in their schedule, they should choose the Europa League. Whereas they are guaranteed to be in the FA Cup next term, Forest might not be back on the continental stage for some time.

All of which means Wrexham will be licking their lips at the prospect of an FA Cup upset this weekend.

Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest betting tips

Wrexham will be looking to cause an FA Cup upset against Nottingham Forest on Friday.

Wrexham can triumph

Dyche is an excellent manager, but his record in the FA Cup is distinctly mediocre. 

In 13 seasons in various dugouts, he has reached the fifth round just twice and never gone beyond that stage.

Dyche often rotates in this competition. If he does so here, Wrexham will smell blood – and with good reason, given Forest had been in poor form before that defeat of West Ham.

Wrexham have made huge progress in a short space of time, but they are yet to beat a Premier League team under their current owners.

With Phil Parkinson’s team in good form having won four games on the trot in the Championship, this is the perfect opportunity to do just that – whether it is after 90 minutes or a penalty shoot-out.

Tip Wrexham to qualify at 2/1 with 247Bet

Expect goals in Wales

There is a curious dichotomy in the number of goals in Wrexham’s home and away games.

On their travels, Wrexham’s league matches feature an average of 2.08 per 90 minutes – the third-lowest figure in the division.

At home, though, their games are the most goal-laden of all 24 teams in the second flight with an average of 3.31 per match.

We have seen two 3-2s, a 3-3, two 2-2s and a 5-3 at the Racehorse Ground this term, while this bet has paid out in 56 percent of games there.

With Wrexham set to go all-out for victory and Nottingham Forest needing to match that energy, we expect goals.

Go for over 2.5 goals at 4/5 with BetMGM

Broadhead to bag

With Kieffer Moore still on the treatment table, Wrexham will continue with a two-pronged attack of Sam Smith and Nathan Broadhead on Friday.

Broadhead has found the back of the net six times in all competitions this season, behind only Moore and Josh Windass.

That is a decent return when you consider the Wales international was usually on the bench in the first few months of the campaign.

Wrexham will need to be efficient in the final third if they are to beat Nottingham Forest, so they will hope Broadhead can lead from the front in that regard.

Select Nathan Broadhead to score any time at 4/1 with Sky Bet

Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest predicted lineups

• Wrexham expected lineup: Okonkwo; Cleworth, Hyam, Doyle; James; Longman, Windass, Sheaf, Thomason; Broadhead, Smith.
• Nottingham Forest expected lineup: Sels; Savona, Cunha, Murillo, Zinchenko; Dominguez, Luiz; Bakwa, McAtee, Hudson-Odoi; Awoniyi.

Where to watch Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest

• Location: Racehorse Ground, Wrexham, Wales.
• Date and time: Friday 9th January, 7.30pm.
• How to watch: TNT Sports 1.

More FA Cup predictions

We have plenty more FA Cup predictions and picks – find our latest betting tips from expert punters in our match preview overview.

About the author

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.

Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball

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