Ipswich host Nottingham Forest at Portman Road on Friday, with the visitors surprisingly in the relegation zone after a narrow defeat by Premier League champions Arsenal last time out.
Forest have won only one match this term and scored just five goals, highlighting their weakness. Despite this, they are favourites to win on Friday night with most betting sites. Forest are 7/1 to be relegated, meaning more than a handful of teams are more likely to drop, according to football betting sites, with Ipswich (5/2) among them.
Ipswich double chance offers value
Ipswich pushed Manchester City all the way at the Etihad last week, following a 2-1 victory against Fulham in their last home game, and they are sharing goals around their squad. Under Gary O'Neil, Ipswich have found form in recent weeks and have only lost to Liverpool at Portman Road in the Premier League this season. They sit 10th in the table with three wins from seven.
Forest, on the other hand, are on a three-game losing streak, and this looks a far trickier assignment than the odds on most betting apps would suggest. Dan Ndoye is the only player to have scored more than once for Forest this season, and star player Morgan Gibbs-White is yet to pick up where he left off last term.
The value looks on Ipswich to follow up their home win against Fulham and take at least a point. Backing Ipswich in the double chance market means the bet pays out so long as they avoid defeat.
Tip: Ipswich double chance (win/draw) - 4/6 (BOYLE Sports)
Julio Enciso to make his mark
Julio Enciso is the playmaker for Ipswich this season after his switch from Brighton. He started the campaign looking very dangerous against teams like Liverpool and Manchester United. Surprisingly, the Paraguayan has failed to score in the Premier League for the Tractor Boys and only has two assists, despite an attacking set-up employed by the Ipswich boss.
Things could turn sooner rather than later for the 22-year-old, and Enciso is a strong option to have a goal involvement at Portman Road on Friday night.
Tip: Julio Enciso to score or assist - 11/8 (bet365)
Team news and head-to-head
Predicted lineups - Ipswich (4-2-3-1): Walton; Ouattara, O'Shea, Diop, Davis; Palacios, Lukic; Fatawu, Enciso, Maeda; Emersonn. Nottingham Forest (3-4-2-1): Sels; Diomande, Milenkovic, Murillo; Munoz, McAtee, Schlager, Williams; Gibbs-White, Ndoye; Delap.
Recent head-to-head results: Ipswich 2-4 Nottingham Forest (15 Mar 2025), Nottingham Forest 1-1 Ipswich (3 Mar 2025), Nottingham Forest 1-0 Ipswich (30 Nov 2024), Ipswich 1-1 Nottingham Forest (16 Mar 2019), Nottingham Forest 2-0 Ipswich (1 Dec 2018).
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