Nottingham Forest vs West Ham Bet Builder Tip & 5/1 Prediction

A brilliant game to kick off this Super Sunday as Notts Forest welcome West Ham to the City Ground for the first EPL home game for them since 1999! An incredible statement when you consider the history and success of the club but they are back in the big time ready to get the place rocking for the welcome of the hammers. One thing is abundantly clear from last weekend’s openers for both sides, neither could get a grip of their games with possession at a premium as West Ham only mustered 25% against the juggernaut that is Man City whilst Forest only managed 38% and 0 shots on target at St James Park so who is going to step up and deliver this weekend? Well I think due to the nature of it being early days and also the build up from the home support could make this one go either way but personally I feel West Ham on paper look too strong for Forest. Not much has changed for the hammers squad wise and that’s a good thing, they also have the welcome addition of Scamacca who once up to speed will be a handful for most sides, I’m focusing on his English teammate this afternoon, however.

Nottingham Forest vs West Ham Bet Builder Tip

Jarrod Bowen to have 2+ shots on target Jack Colback to make 3+ tackles Odds – 5/1 with Bet365

Jarrod Bowen 2+ Shots on Target

Bowen was in my opinion West Ham’s best player last season. He is so direct and dangerous going forward and caused a number of issues for sides earning himself an England call up for all his hard work. He managed 12 goals and 10 assists in 36 EPL games last season looking at 61% average of hitting one or the other per game last season. Breaking that down to shots on target he managed 35 in 36 (0.97spg) and shots per game over the same 36 games was 2.2. With the line set at 6/4 against a newly promoted side and his heavy involvement in attacks for the visitors that looks too big for me.

Jack Colback Over 2.5 tackles

At the other end of the pitch, the hosts will be looking for a positive opening and to take the game to West Ham, how that happens will heavily depend on how can grapple for possession in the middle of the pitch. Now the experience of Soucek/Rice for West Ham makes that a challenge for this new Forest midfield of Lingard/Colback/OBrien so reliance will heavily be on the former Newcastle man Colback to utilise his abilities to wrestle possession in favour of the home side. Given my comments about Bowen, add in Lanzini potentially one of Antonio/Scamacca and Fornals and there is a lot of creativity in the visitors to upset Colbacks mission. I see him needing to put himself about to lay a marker and many players too good that will draw him into fouls. His record last season was 12 cards in 41 games (29%), 2.2 tackles per game in a side who was at the top end. At the other end this season I expect him to make 2-3 every game in his role and on opening day he hit 5 tackles so the odds on 3+ tackles at 6/4 looks high.

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