Nottinghamshire

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Boss Vitor Pereira will look to continue Nottingham Forest's revival and take a huge step to safety at Sunderland on Friday (20:00 BST).

Forest are third in the form table over the last five matches, behind Brighton and Manchester City, after edging away from the Premier League's relegation zone.

Their 10 goals in the last five matches is also the best attack in the league over that period while, since Pereira replaced Sean Dyche, Forest have conceded seven goals in seven league games - the fifth best in the league.

It has left them five points clear of the bottom three and with the chance to move eight points clear at the Stadium of Light to put the pressure on Tottenham and West Ham for the final relegation spot.

Since Pereira took over, Forest's goals per game in the Premier League have gone up 64% from 0.96 to 1.57 and they are now creating 30% more big chances, converting 75% more of them, according to analysis by Goalpoint.

In a clear picture of how the style has changed under Pereira, open play crosses have dropped by 31% and deep crosses have gone down 29% but shots from through balls have gone up 31%.

Defensively, Forest's errors leading to shots are down 23% and they are also allowing fewer shots against them inside the box with successful tackles up 10% under Pereira.

Expected goals (xG) conceded have gone from 1.5 to 1.2 and with five games left Forest will aim to maintain their form to seal survival.

Image source, Getty Images

Can Nottingham Forest stay up?

Wolves and Burnley are relegated so the battle to avoid finishing in the third from bottom spot is on with just five games remaining.

Opta have given Forest a 4.27% chance of going down as they have a five-point cushion on Tottenham, who sit in 18th.

"I wish I had a crystal ball and I could tell you what was going to happen to end the anguish of the next couple of weeks," said BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray on the Shut Up And Show More Football podcast. "It's difficult to predict form at this time of the season for any side.

"I would say Leeds are out of it because if you get to 40 points you're probably going to be OK.

"For a long time this season people said that wouldn't be enough but it looks like it's going to be. That means Forest need four more points and, as an in-form team, I can see them getting four points somewhere along the line.

"It is a mini-league but Forest are performing and they are showing resilience under pressure.

"If they can go to Sunderland and get three points then psychologically it's huge. They have had very good home form and full credit to what they have done this season. The crowd will be up for it and it will be a difficult game for Forest.

"Forest just need to continue what they have been doing."

Listen on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Nottingham Forest content on BBC Sounds

Prudent Nsengiyumva
BBC Sport journalist

A Sunderland side still in contention for European qualification face improving Nottingham Forest at the Stadium of Light on Friday (20:00 BST). Both sides are looking to hold their nerve in the closing stages of the season to achieve their goals.

Can Sunderland rediscover home strength?

The Stadium of Light has been a key asset for Sunderland this season, but that advantage has waned in recent weeks. Regis le Bris' side have lost three of their past four home league games after beginning the campaign unbeaten in their first 12.

Despite the recent wobble, their overall home record remains impressive. Winning their final three home games would take Sunderland to 38 points at the Stadium of Light – the best home return by a promoted Premier League side since Ipswich Town and Charlton Athletic in 2000-01.

Defensive vulnerability is a concern, though. Sunderland have conceded four or more goals in five of their past 13 league matches, highlighting a need for greater control against opponents who tend to thrive on the counter-attack.

Rigg matching club history at 18

Chris Rigg's emergence has been one of Sunderland's standout stories this season. At 18 years and 305 days, his fine goal against Aston Villa last weekend made him just the third teenager to score in the Premier League for the club, after Michael Bridges and Connor Wickham.

Forest aiming to extend unbeaten run

Nottingham Forest remain in the relegation fight, five points clear of the bottom three. However, Vitor Pereira's side are unbeaten in seven matches (W4, D3), their longest run since a nine-game stretch between December 2024 and January 2025.

That run has eased pressure as they also look ahead to a Europa League semi-final against Aston Villa.

Their 4–1 win over Burnley last time out was particularly important, marking the first time Forest had won a Premier League match by more than two goals after conceding first.

Morgan Gibbs White remains Forest's main attacking influence. His hat-trick against Burnley made him only the third player to score a Premier League treble for the club, after Kevin Campbell and Chris Wood.

With 12 league goals this season, the Forest captain is enjoying his most productive campaign.

Sunderland lost last week, in an absolute thriller against Aston Villa, but the way they fought back in that game kind of summed up why they have had such a good season.

They kept having a go and got back from 3-1 to 3-3 in the final few minutes before Villa's last-gasp winner.

Forest got in the goals last time out too, scoring four against Burnley, but this game feels like it will be far tighter and quite cagey.

A draw would be a decent result for Forest in the circumstances, with them sitting five points above Spurs, who are in the final relegation place.

Vitor Pereira's side have been tough to beat recently - they have not lost any of their past seven games and they have been good on the road too.

Even so, I have a sneaky feeling Sunderland will find a way of winning this one at home, and leave Forest with a bit more work to do.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Manchester City are in pole position to sign Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, despite interest from clubs including Manchester United and Arsenal. (Sky Sports), external

Forest will attempt to sign Celtic midfielder Arne Engels this summer, after having a bid of £25m for the 22-year-old rejected by the Scottish club in February. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

David Jackson and Colin Fray discuss Nottingham Forest's chances of Premier League survival on the latest episode of Shut Up And Show More Football.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here- and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Nottingham Forest content on BBC Sounds

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Defender Murillo is expected to miss Nottingham Forest's Europa League semi-final first leg against Aston Villa.

The centre-back limped off with an apparent hamstring injury in the first half of Sunday's 4-1 win over Burnley and is sidelined for Friday's Premier League trip to Sunderland.

He is also expected to miss the first game with Villa at the City Ground next Thursday, Forest's first European semi-final in 42 years.

"He is out [of the Sunderland game]," head coach Vitor Pereira said on Thursday. "We will see. It is a muscle injury.

"I'm not a doctor, I cannot predict, but he will be out tomorrow. I think it will be more than one game."

It adds to Forest's woes after Callum Hudson-Odoi was ruled out for the rest of the season.

The winger had surgery on a quad problem this week after coming off in the Europa League quarter-final win over Porto last week.

"He is OK after the surgery," Pereira said. "He is an important player for us, but the most important thing is for him to fully recover and come back at the level he used to have."

The latest news and views on Forest in two minutes, every weekday afternoon.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira has been speaking to the media before Friday's Premier League game against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Callum Hudson-Odoi is "feeling OK" after undergoing surgery to treat a right quadriceps muscle injury. The 25-year-old will be missed for the rest of this season, "but the most important thing is to have him fully recovered".

• Dan Ndoye is in "the right condition" to return to the squad after missing the 4-1 win over Burnley for undisclosed reasons. However, Murillo has been ruled out after being forced off the pitch with a "muscle injury" last time out.

• On picking up a Europa League win and a Premier League win last week, he said: "I believe we have to keep the same mentality and same level still. We have to be competitive until the last minute of the last game. This is what I'm trying to put into the minds of my players."

• He added that the players will not take their foot off the gas after opening up a five-point cushion from the relegation zone. The aim is to keep "building consistency, competing in every game and fighting to pick up points everywhere".

• Pereira said a "special number of points" will be needed to avoid relegation this season, but Nottingham Forest have the "talent, character, energy and support" to be in the Premier League next season.

• On the success Sunderland are having this season, he said: "They are having a very good season. I've reminded my players that they are 10 points above us, which means they are playing with consistency. I respect them a lot. They have a good team, they are strong competitors and they have a good manager."

• He believes Morgan Gibbs-White should be in the England squad after his performances this season, but he also "respects the national team manager's decision". He added: "All I can say is I only have good things to say about him."

Hear more from Pereira by hitting play above or listen on BBC Sounds here

Got a question about Forest? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts