Nottingham Forest’s Champions League rivals are all picking up form, with both Chelsea and Aston Villa winning on Friday night.
Forest travel to face West Ham on Sunday with Hammers boss Graham Potter already hailing Forest’s attack, who will know that only a win will do in their hunt for Champions League football.
Chris Sutton expects Forest to draw with West Ham as the pressure mounts on Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, not helped by both Chelsea and Villa winning their penultimate games of the season.
With these two results in mind, the Opta supercomputer has given Reds fans a bleak update on their Champions League chances.
Photo by Andrea Staccioli/Insidefoto/LightRocket via Getty Images
Photo by Andrea Staccioli/Insidefoto/LightRocket via Getty Images
Supercomputer issues unwelcome Nottingham Forest update
As recently as mid-April, Forest were predicted to finish fifth by the data, but Friday’s results alongside the Reds’ own recent struggles have seen this prediction slip.
According to Opta, Forest are expected to finish the season right where they are in seventh, but it’s the percentage chance of qualifying for the Champions League that makes for worse reading.
Team % chance of Champions League
Arsenal 99.71%
Newcastle United 92.58%
Manchester City 87.70%
Chelsea 60.22%
Aston Villa 48.54%
Nottingham Forest 11.25%
Forest’s Champions League chances are slipping
The data is predicting that Forest have just an 11.25% chance of qualifying for the Champions League in the final two games of the season, a stark drop from Aston Villa with a 48.54% chance.
Certainly upsetting to see, but the Forest squad can take comfort in knowing that, in terms of their task for the final two games of the season, nothing has changed.
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Nottingham Forest’s task has not changed with rivals’ results
It’s a fairly simple message for Espirito Santo and the Forest coaching staff to relay to the players: win the next two games to be in with a chance.
It still may not be enough, but the Reds can at least bow out of this Premier League campaign on their terms by picking up maximum points.
Michael Dawson still believes in Forest’s Champions League chances and the final day clash with Chelsea can keep hopes alive, providing they come away with three points from the London Stadium.
Forest’s remarkable season deserves a fitting climax, so let’s hope the team get the job done against West Ham to set up a thrilling finale at the City Ground.