The third time could be the charm for either Nottingham Forest or Tottenham Hotspur when the two winless Premier League sides meet at the City Ground on Saturday afternoon.
Both clubs have endured difficult starts to the 2026/27 campaign and will enter the weekend desperate to put their first league victory on the board.
Nottingham Forest claimed their first point of the season last weekend after producing an entertaining 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield. The Tricky Trees twice took the lead through Dan Ndoye and Morgan Gibbs-White, but were ultimately pegged back by goals from Alexander Isak and Victor Muñoz.
The result ended Forest’s immediate run of defeats but still left Oliver Glasner waiting for his first competitive victory since taking charge of the club.
Forest had previously suffered consecutive defeats against Leeds United, losing at the City Ground in both the Premier League and EFL Cup. Those results left them at risk of beginning the campaign with three successive defeats across all competitions before their encouraging display at Anfield.
There was nevertheless frustration at Liverpool, with Forest having twice established an advantage only to surrender it on both occasions.
Tottenham, meanwhile, arrive in an even more concerning position.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle United last weekend, following their opening-day loss and leaving Spurs without a single point after their first two league fixtures.
The start has produced an unwanted piece of club history. Even the Tottenham sides from the disastrous 2024/25 and 2025/26 campaigns did not experience the same fate, with De Zerbi’s team becoming the first Tottenham side in Premier League history to lose both of their opening matches without scoring a goal.
The lack of attacking output will be a major concern for De Zerbi as his side prepare to travel to Nottingham.
Tottenham will therefore be looking for a response at the City Ground, while Forest will be hoping to build on their performance against Liverpool and finally deliver a victory for Glasner.
For Forest, the challenge is to turn promising performances into three points after failing to protect leads at Anfield. For Tottenham, the priority is even more urgent: avoid extending a historically poor start and finally find the back of the net.
With both teams still searching for their first Premier League win, Saturday’s meeting carries significant importance for two managers attempting to establish themselves at their respective clubs.
Forest will have home advantage and the confidence of their performance against Liverpool, while Tottenham will arrive under pressure after a frustrating opening two matches.
One of the two sides could finally get their campaign moving at the third attempt.
Team News
Adding to an already heaving attack on transfer deadline day, Tottenham reunited De Zerbi with his “son” Mykhaylo Mudryk – joining on loan from Chelsea alongside Tosin Adarabioyo’s permanent transfer.
Deadline day was a quieter affair at the City Ground, but Glasner brought ex-Crystal Palace colleague Daniel Munoz to the club at the end of August, and the Colombian could immediately be stationed at right wing-back for the hosts.
Possible lineups
Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:
Sels; Milenkovic, Cunha, Murillo; Munoz, Schlager, McAtee, Williams; Gibbs-White, Ndoye; Jesus
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Kinsky; Gray, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Robertson; Tonali, Bentancur; Porro, Fernandes, Tel; Marmoush
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SuperSport |
| Live Stream | dstv stream |
| Kick-off Time | 3:00pm (WAT) |
Match predictions
Softfootball predicts Forest 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
