Premier League - Ipswich Town vs Nottingham Forest Preview & Matchday Thread

[Frosty]

Ipswich Town vs Nottingham Forest


Saturday 15th March 2025 – 15:00

Portman Road







Pre-Match Thoughts - Mike


There is little doubt the performance at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace was a good effort that certainly deserved some reward, against a team bang in form we matched them for much of the contest and created a few decent chances while also having more efforts on target than our hosts, sadly though it was yet another case of the same old outcome as we again fail to turn it into points and ultimately we succumb to a Palace effort in the closing Minutes of another match. We can dissect it all we want, we can all have an opinion of line ups, tactics, substitutions etc but the fact remains that whatever we do or say the final outcome is virtually always the same, the cutting edge and ruthlessness needed in this division just isn't there, not to mention the "Dark Arts" as mentioned by Luke Woolfenden after the game.

While I didn't really agree with the starting line up it has to be said that most acquitted themselves well and put in a right good shift, One or Two showed glimpses at times but we needed more, I think to have Eight efforts on goal dispels the myth that we had no cutting edge or looked like we were never going to score, the issue is not many players in our team on any given match day score enough goals, most don't have the goalscorers killer instinct, and the One that does, Liam Delap, often tries too hard to the point of overplaying and being a tad greedy.

Defensively I thought we looked pretty good and for me Woolfenden is playing some of the best Football we have seen for many a long day, Two games in a row where he has been commanding and hasn't put a foot wrong, Jacob Greaves too made some superb tackles and blocks, while Darragh O'Shea looked solid despite being moved to Right Back, already we have come to expect Alex Palmer to do the business and once again he was very good and didn't deserve to be on the losing side. The dark arts should have been brought into play when the foul on Phillips wasn't given in the lead up to the winning goal, most just accepted it and boy did we miss our skipper at that time as he would, without question, have been in the Referee's ear which could well have prompted a VAR review at the very least.

Sadly our best Two chances fell to Jaden Philogene & Ben Johnson rather than a Delap or Hirst and the chances were missed, Johnson's in particular looked a great chance and I am convinced a striker puts that away. I think inconsistency is massive in our team with players having a good game One week and a quiet One the next, we just cannot hope to survive with that being the case, I thought Philogene, Clarke & Phillips all needed greater contributions while Jens Cajuste also needs to be far more forward thinking in his passing etc, all too often it's backwards or sideways, we are screaming out for creativity in the Middle of the park which I think is why Delap often drops deep and tries to do too much.

With Wolves Picking up another point as we got beaten the gap has now stretched to Six points and considering we have only won Three all season finding the Two wins to just close the gap looks a bit of a forlorn hope, ok we Could well do the double over Wolves at home which is now enormous but where do another Three or Four victories come from ? Forest (H), Bournemouth (A), Wolves (H), Chelsea (A), Arsenal (H), (Newcastle (A), Everton(A), (Brentford (H), Leicester (A), West Ham Utd (H), That is what games we have left, can you realistically see Four or Five wins ?

All we can do is to keep plugging away and take One game at a time, oh and pray for a miracle of some description but it's not looking too hopeful, which in truth it hasn't done for some considerable time now, the games keep getting ticked off and our position slowly gets worse.

Anyway the first of those final Ten games sees us up against Nottingham Forest once again, we have given them a couple of good battles in the Two ties at the City Ground where a penalty has beaten us on both occasions, maybe it is Third time lucky and being home should help us, although that has not been the case all season long where we have won a meagre One game all season. If we could only start to get the wins at home we would have a chance, forget Arsenal, that just won't happen but the other Four are possible when we are at our best.

One thing we cannot do is give up and clearly we won't, even if at times I think I have I still come back for the next game believing it could just be our day, hope springs eternal I guess and you just never know. Reality says Forest should be too strong for us but I saw enough in the cup game to believe we can give them a game and maybe just maybe one of these days it falls our way and we grab a win in a very tight contest that could go either way, it surely has to happen at some point after all, could this be our turn ? COYB'S.




The Opposition - Nottingham Forest - Honours



League


First Division

Champions: 1977–78
Runners-up: 1966–67, 1978–79

Second Division / First Division / Championship

Champions: 1906–07, 1921–22, 1997–98
Runners-up: 1956–57, 1993–94
Promoted: 1976–77
Play-off winners: 2022

Third Division South / League One

Champions: 1950–51
Runners-up: 2007–08

Football Alliance

Champions: 1891–92


Cup


FA Cup

Winners: 1897–98, 1958–59
Runners-up: 1990–91

Football League Cup

Winners: 1977–78, 1978–79, 1988–89, 1989–90
Runners-up: 1979–80, 1991–92

FA Charity Shield

Winners: 1978
Runners-up: 1959

Full Members' Cup

Winners: 1988–89, 1991–92


European


European Cup

Winners: 1978–79, 1979–80

European Super Cup

Winners: 1979
Runners-up: 1980

Intercontinental Cup

Runners-up: 1980




The Manager – Nuno Espírito Santo








League Table as at 11.03.2025





Form Guide



Ipswich Town




1 Feb Ipswich Town 1 - 2 Southampton

15 Feb Aston Villa 1 - 1 Ipswich Town

22 Feb Ipswich Town 1 - 4 Tottenham

26 Feb Manchester Utd 3 - 2 Ipswich Town

8 Mar Crystal Palace 1 - 0 Ipswich Town





Nottingham Forest




1 Feb Nottm Forest 7 - 0 Brighton

15 Feb Fulham 2 - 1 Nottm Forest

23 Feb Newcastle Utd 4 - 3 Nottm Forest

26 Feb Nottm Forest 0 - 0 Arsenal

8 Mar Nottm Forest 1 - 0 Manchester City





Head to Head







Match Referee – Michael Salisbury







IPSWICH TOWN 2 NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1

[marko69]

Nice honest preview there. And written as a bit of a reality check in terms of points required. Does seem like an Everest to climb.

I’ll chuck some blind faith at it all:
Forest (H) 1 pt
,Bournemouth (A) 0 pts
Wolves (H) 3 pts ,
Chelsea (A) 0 pts,
Arsenal (H) 0 pts
(Newcastle (A) 1 pt,
Everton(A), 1 pt
(Brentford (H), 1 pt
Leicester (A), 3 pts
West Ham Utd (H), 1 pt

11 points.
Was that blind faith? I think thats still a relegation. Could be close.

3pts would be huge in this game. And with almost 27K positive Ipswich fans behind the lads, could come to fruition.
Will say a 1-1 draw. ……, but a 2-0 would be incredible.

Caption:

Nuno: “YELLOW!”
Ref: “Calm down, Mr Santos”
Nuno: “YELLOW! YELLOW!”
Ref: “It’ll be red if you don’t…..”
Nuno: “YELLOW! YEEEELLOOOOW!!”

[hallamblue]

Yes, great preview. Thank you.

I've gone for a draw which in itself would be a good result given our situation and inability to buy a win.

I agree safety is not out of the question but it's a tall order. Hope rises and wains with each game it's a roller oater of feelings, mostly bourne out of passion for Town.
Whatever tit for tat posts spear on this forum, one thing I am 100% sure of, is we ALL want the same thing. Town wins and survival. So maybe we all need to try and keep this in mind, and as Ashton has said " stick together".


Come on Town, let's give em a game.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

I'm going to upset forum members from the wrong side of the wall, who are doubtless expecting another odious and negative prediction from me: Town 3 - Forest 1

[MasseyFerguson]

Excellent preview!

This is one I think we can win. They can be hit and miss, as demonstrated by their recent form. One week they thrash Brighton and then lose their next two matches, albeit against decent opposition. I think we can sneak a one goal margin victory to keep our thin, fading, hopes of survival alive for a little while longer.

[JohnnyB]

I'm going to upset forum members from the wrong side of the wall, who are doubtless expecting another odious and negative prediction from me: Town 3 - Forest 1

Ooo what wall? And where am I on this wall?

I would love 3-1 to happen

[Frosty]

I'm going to upset forum members from the wrong side of the wall, who are doubtless expecting another odious and negative prediction from me: Town 3 - Forest 1

Is that the halftime or fulltime score mate?

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

I'm going to upset forum members from the wrong side of the wall, who are doubtless expecting another odious and negative prediction from me: Town 3 - Forest 1

Is that the halftime or fulltime score mate?

Full time I think, Dave. After 85 minutes we will be 0-1 down, and KM's reponse to chants of "You're getting sacked in the morning" leads to a change in formation to 3-5-2 and the playing of Delap and Hirst together up front for the remaining 5 minutes of normal time plus 5 minutes added time. Oh well, I can dream.

[Frosty]

I'm going to upset forum members from the wrong side of the wall, who are doubtless expecting another odious and negative prediction from me: Town 3 - Forest 1

Is that the halftime or fulltime score mate?

Full time I think, Dave. After 85 minutes we will be 0-1 down, and KM's reponse to chants of "You're getting sacked in the morning" leads to a change in formation to 3-5-2 and the playing of Delap and Hirst together up front for the remaining 5 minutes of normal time plus 5 minutes added time. Oh well, I can dream.

You have been known to be right before, please don’t crush my hopes now

[marko69]

Predicting a draw in the prediction League. That could rule THAT result out. Could indeed be a win at Portman Road. Could be pumped though.

Ahhh! That covers all bases. Sorted.

[Frosty]

I am going to put a 2-1 win in the PL this week, law of f**king averages must apply sooner or later.

At least by stating my intent 17 other players in the comp now know what not to predict for a score.

[arana peligrosa]

Voted to win if only because can't entertain the thought of getting beat. How many games we won at Portman Road this season anyway, 1 or 2 is it, that's simply unacceptable. In fact it's damn embarrassing. The team we got this season and collective players simply can't be that bad or inefficient. Guess you could chalk it up to missed chances or acts of misfortune.

Leicester are right on our as* now. Last looked they seemed done for, well behind and not a chance of making it but truth is they could in fact overtake us by the end of this game, they get a result themselves etc.

It's 17th position or nothing for us this season. Not going to finish beyond it, other team's got too much of a points advantage. Defeat here will be critical, not so much game over but many will accept it's just not to be this year. McKenna would do well to start with 2 or 3 in attack and really go for it but somehow you know how it's going to be.

ITFC 1 Nottingham 0

[Charnwood]

I like the look of he team. It’s pretty much the same as played well and created plenty of chances at Palace with only one change, Hutchinson coming in for Jack Clarke. To win one thing has to change significantly and that’s being more clinical in front of goal and had we been at Selhurst Oark we could have been two up in the first 10 mins. We can only hope. What we can’t afford to do is concede early as Forest are excellent and defending a lead.

COYB’s. What I’d give to be there with Forest being one of my favourite teams after Town. Just loved going to the City Ground when we lived in Nottingham and again when we lived in Leicestershire.

[Cabanas Blue]

Playing well Hutchinson should had a good chance which should have been on target.

[Charnwood]

Tactically cancelling one another out and at times we’re managing to dominate the game which is encouraging. It looks like chances are going to be few and far between.

Bollocks, from nowhere, That was p*ss poor marking.

0-1

[JamessB]

Giving away poor goals, the story of our season…

[Charnwood]

Now thats what you call a goal. 0-2 Elanga.

Game over I’m afraid.

[Steve and Jo]

Tactically cancelling one another out and at times we’re managing to dominate the game which is encouraging. It looks like chances are going to be few and far between.

Bollocks, from nowhere, That was p*ss poor marking.

0-1

not just the marking but come on Andy who needs marking when your own team pass the to them.. This is pathetic, We looked good but again cannot take our chances then p*iss poor defending.. No need for the keeper to come charging out then Delap lovely pass to them.. sod the marking

Not even started on their second goal

[Steve and Jo]

We are not strong enough.. Its powder pass. Nottingham are getting stuck in, we are not

[Cabanas Blue]

Now 3 pathetic defending

[Steve and Jo]

AGAIN !!!!

No heart, no desire, Where's the challenge, This is totally pathetic, Not tactics, not line up, nothing to do with two up front or who. If you are not prepared to get stuck in then get the F*CK OUT

[JamessB]

It’s actually embarrassing now how poor we are after shelling out £140m+, please can the season just end to put us out of our misery

[Charnwood]

Woolfie cost nothing so I guess his mistake for the third doesn’t matter.

[Charnwood]

Beginning to wish I’d not organised my day around the footie but I’m sure I’m not the only one thinking this way.

[Steve and Jo]

Woolfy is not showing no desire. Look how he taken ball forwards there. It's like.. Come and get it forest but why should they
?. Its up to us to make something happen. Being totally honestly Ipswich Town simply not good enough in this league.

[Steve and Jo]

Given up watching

[Charnwood]

It’s actually embarrassing now how poor we are after shelling out £140m+, please can the season just end to put us out of our misery

Only buys 3 decent Premier League players whilst the existing EPL Clubs spend similar sums strengthening what they already have. That’s why the promoted clubs can’t compete in their promotion year.

[Charnwood]

Woolfy is not showing no desire. Look how he taken ball forwards there. It's like.. Come and get it forest but why should they
?. Its up to us to make something happen. Being totally honestly Ipswich Town simply not good enough in this league.

No desire is exactly what he’s showing.

[marko69]

At a "public health" thing with the Mrs and decided to catch a sneak at BBC HT scores..... Hibs & Ipswich ---->> Nice one & Oh sh*t, respectively.

Exclusive from Forest HT team talk...., NUNO caption.

"FIVE! GET FIVE!! FIVE!"

[Steve and Jo]

Woolfy is not showing no desire. Look how he taken ball forwards there. It's like.. Come and get it forest but why should they
?. Its up to us to make something happen. Being totally honestly Ipswich Town simply not good enough in this league.

No desire is exactly what he’s showing.

That's exactly what meant Andy and he's not the only one