Brighton vs Nottingham Forest Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2024-25 English FA Cup | Quarter-Final
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These two have played some remarkable encounters this season in very different ways as Brighton and Hove Albion now take on Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup quarter-final this week.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 29th March, 2025: UK – 5:15pm / US ET – 1:15pm / US PT – 10:15am
How to watch on TV: UK – BBC / US – ESPN+
How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer / US – ESPN+
Brighton Preview: Soaring Seagulls
Brighton and Hove Albion’s season turned on their humiliation at the hands of Nottingham Forest at the City Ground in early February where they were humbled by seven goals to nil but they have since returned to some excellent form as they propel themselves up the table.
The Seagulls come into this one on the back of an entertaining 2-2 draw with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium a couple of weeks ago as they chase UEFA Champions League qualification. They are now unbeaten in seven matches across all competitions since that 7-0 loss to Forest.
Nottingham Forest Preview: Tricky Trees
That victory was perhaps an anomaly in a fairly average run of form for Nottingham Forest but they went into the March international break on the back of a return to form as they chase one of the more unlikely top four finishes in recent Premier League history.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s Forest recovered from a dip in form by collecting seven points from three matches before that aforementioned break, most recently defeating Ipswich Town by four goals to two at Portman Road a couple of weeks ago.
Brighton Team News: Potential returns
Fabian Hurzeler said there were quite a few players that could return after the international break such as Lewis Dunk, Joel Veltman, Matt O’Riley and Solly March. They are without some players due to injury such as Igor Julio, Tariq Lamptey and Ferdi Kadioglu.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Hinshelwood, Van Hecke, Webster, Pervis Estupinan; Ayari, Baleba; Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma; Joao Pedro
Unavailable: Steele (Injured), Igor Julio (Injured), Lamptey (Injured), Kadioglu (Injured), Milner (Injured)
Questionable: Dunk (Injured), Veltman (Injured), O’Riley (Injured), March (Injured)
Nottingham Forest Team News: Wood a doubt
In New Zealand’s eventual 3-0 defeat of New Caledonia to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup last week, Chris Wood limped off injured and he is now a major doubt, albeit he himself said that ‘it is nothing too major’ and suggested it may well just be an impact injury.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Dominguez, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Unavailable: Carlos Miguel (Injured)
Questionable: Wood (Injured)
Brighton vs Nottingham Forest Prediction
Brighton have played a possession-based style of football with Nottingham Forest on the counter-attack and that produced a thrilling 2-2 draw at the AMEX Stadium in September but Forest’s efficient best allowed them to completely rout the Seagulls in the reverse fixture. What is clear is that if Brighton are at their best and Forest remain clinical on the counter attack, it is a game whereby the styles make the match and it should be quite entertaining for the neutral.
Brighton vs Nottingham Forest Tip: Both teams to score
