Sunderland is predicted to win 3-2 against Forest, with Habib Diarra as the first goalscorer. The match is crucial for Forest's survival in the league.
Key points
Sunderland predicted to win 3-2 against Forest
Habib Diarra expected as first goalscorer
Match important for Forest's survival
Sunderland's defense has been vulnerable recently
Sunderland secured Premier League position for next season
Since we secured our Premier League position for next season itâs pretty clear weâve let the shackles off a little â however on Sunday we looked pretty easy to break through at times and we need to make sure we donât go too far the other way.
That said, Forest will be coming intent on getting three points for survival, which should make for another entertaining game.
Iâm going for another high-scoring match, with the lads coming out on top. Just, and for Diarra to have an Enzo-esque redemption with the opener.
Forest will be keen to get something and weâll be keen to repay the fans for what was a thrilling but narrow loss at Villa Park.
The visitors have a couple of late injury issues, but still carry a lot of goal threat with Chris Wood getting back up to speed post-injury and coming off the back of a hat trick.
Q&A
What is the score prediction for Sunderland vs Forest?
The score prediction is Sunderland 3, Forest 2.
Who is expected to be Sunderland's first goalscorer against Forest?
Habib Diarra is predicted to be Sunderland's first goalscorer.
Why is the match important for Forest?
The match is crucial for Forest as they are fighting for survival in the league.
What recent performance trends are noted for Sunderland?
Sunderland has shown a tendency to be defensively vulnerable despite securing their Premier League position.
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I do think that given the return from injury of Dan Ballard and to full fitness of Omar Alderete (one player to have almost beaten Villa despite being a bit unwell last weekend), weâll have enough to keep a clean sheet.
Brobbey to resume normal service, and hopefully a goal for Diarra to quickly quash the memories of what couldâve been in Brum. 2-0 under the lights, and back on track for Europe. Easy, this!
Jack Howe-Gingell predictsâŠ
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Forest 1
Sunderlandâs first goalscorer: Brian Brobbey
After a highly entertaining albeit disappointing defeat at Villa, we meet another opponent fighting at the opposite end.
Forest have been poor in the league this season but have managed to get a bit of daylight between themselves and the bottom three, as well as going unbeaten in their last five games. Theyâll be looking to get themselves safe, and will be no pushovers.
I think the main man to watch a has to be Morgan Gibbs-White, fresh off his first ever hat trick. Handle him and I think itâll be an another home victory for us.
I was delighted to see Chris Rigg score his first goal last time â a deserved reward for his performances over the last few matches and that reminded of us of the gem we have.
Hopefully a big Friday night crowd will roar us on to a win, and start the weekend right.
Will Jones predictsâŠ
Score prediction: Sunderland 3 Forest 2
Sunderlandâs first goalscorer: Brian Brobbey
Friday night under the lightsâŠproper game, this.
Forest without Callum Hudson-Odoi is a boost and takes a bit of pace and threat out of their side, but theyâll still come and have a go. It feels like one that could be open. Weâll create chances at home and if it turns into a bit of a scrap, that suits us.
Brobbey to get us going, goals at both ends, a bit of chaos, and we edge it.
I was proud of our performance against Villa, as it showed that thereâs still fight in this side regardless of safety, and I think the fightback and the manner of the defeat will spur the Lads on for tonightâs game.
We face a Forest side thatâve put some breathing space between themselves and Spurs, but arenât completely out of the woods (pun intended).
They also have a Europa League semi-final to contend with but Iâm sure their Premier League status takes priority.
Itâs hard to gauge how this goes, but with Forest going into it five unbeaten in the league, Iâll back an entertaining draw.
Anthony Gair predictsâŠ
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Forest 1
Sunderlandâs first goalscorer: Chris Rigg
Right, lads. Birthday today, Forest at home, lights on. If I could script the fixture list myself, weâd play this game every year until the end of time.
Theyâve had four managers since September. Weâve had one. They win. Thatâs the whole preview, really.
The only thing I like about Forest is Brian Clough â a God of a man who also happened to play for us and had his knee done at Roker Park. Small world. Sentiment stops at the door.
Rigg to open the scoring. No logic; just pure gut instinct. 2-1 to the Lads, the Stadium of Light goes âpopâ, and thatâs the best birthday a Mackem could ask for. Haway!
Gary Winter predictsâŠ
Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Forest 0
Sunderlandâs first goalscorer: Brian Brobbey
It was so very nearly an extraordinary turnaround against a very good Aston Villa side last weekend.
We played well and never gave up, but gifted some sloppy goals early in each half. We were an instance away from sitting in sixth and it was gut-wrenching, but that said, we have a chance to get back on track and if weâre to be in with a shout of a European spot on the final day, this feels like a must-win.
Weâre coming up against a recently in-form Nottingham Forest though, who are fighting for survival in the league and also for a European trophy. Itâs just the one defeat in their last nine games for Forest and that was in the Europa League â a run that included an impressive point away at Manchester City.
Itâs going to be a real tussle between two sides with a lot to play for tonight. Iâm just hoping a fixture under the lights at home helps create the atmosphere that can give us the edge. I also think we shift back to shoring up at the back in order to keep this tight.
Going from playing a team that could be in Champions League next season on Sunday to one that could be in the Championship and bizarrely also in the Champions League next season tonight.
Forest have a little bit of breathing space but know with defeat at the Stadium of Light and results going against them tomorrow, theyâre back in the mix.
Following Sundayâs mental finish, I feel the Lads are going to be well up for this one, wanting to put right a few wrongs and possibly put us in the mix for some European dreams of our own.
Last time outâŠ
What a game that was, and for a team that usually excels âTil The End, for once we fell a little short.
A great fightback by the Lads, however, and to run such a team that close away from home was an achievement in itself.
Tonight, we face Forest under the floodlights and both teams have something to play for. Will Forest get something and extend their gap to the bottom four â or will we get a third win from four and push into the top seven before the rest of the weekend pans out?
Hopefully the latter, but weâll need to be on our game to get a win tonight.
Last game predictionsâŠ
Everyone went for a Sunderland win or a draw for the visit to Villa Park, apart from Matty, who saw through the red and white-tinted specs and called a 2-1 loss.
The right result and score difference, but not quite the right amount of goals.
Nobody went for Rigg to break his Premier League duck, so no points for the first scorer this time out.
Predictions table and standings
The only change this week is for Matty, who claims fifth place for himself after getting one point for calling a loss (sad bugger).
No change above or below him, and no points deducted for late submissions this week, after a plethora of yellow card warnings last weekend had the desired effect.
How the points are awarded
Just a quick reminder of how we allocate points to our match-by-match predictions:
Correct score = Three points
Correct outcome (but not correct score) = One point
Correct first Sunderland goalscorer = One point (no goalscorer is a valid call)
Possible deductions for being lazy and not submitting on time = a two-point deduction.
