Nottingham Forest vs Coventry Preview: Team News & Prediction

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We have a midlands derby at the City Ground on Saturday as an improved Nottingham Forest take on a Coventry City side that have endured a woeful start to the season.

Kick-off date/time: 19 September 2026 at 5:30 pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – NBC

How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / USA – Peacock

Nottingham Forest preview: Improved Forest

Nottingham Forest started their season with defeats to Leeds United in both the Premier League and then the EFL Cup but they have since gone on to collect five points from their previous three games.

Oliver Glasner’s side shared draws with Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur before they defeated Aston Villa away from home last weekend, courtesy of goals scored by Liam Delap and then Igor Jesus late on.

Coventry preview: Tough return to the Premier League

Having returned to the top-flight for the first time in over 25 years, Coventry City have endured a tough time of it back in the Premier League with The Sky Blues having lost four from four and conceded ten goals in the process without scoring.

After a 5-0 demolition at the hands of Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend, Coventry then succumbed to a 3-1 defeat to another midlands rival Aston Villa in the third round of the EFL Cup in midweek.

Nottingham Forest team news: Defensive injuries

Ahead of last weekend, Glasner suggested Jair Cunha would remain ahead of Ousmane Diomande in the pecking-order for now but the Brazilian has now suffered a thigh injury to which he will be assessed for ahead of this one.

As well as the absence of the former Palmeiras centre-back, fellow centre-back Nikola Milenkovic has also suffered a thigh injury and also missed out last weekend.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sels; Aina, Diomande, Murillo; Munoz, Schlager, McAtee, Williams; Ndoye, Gibbs-White; Delap

Unavailable: Milenkovic (Injured), Savona (Injured)

Questionable: Jair (Injured)

Coventry team news: Awoniyi suspended

Having arrived from Nottingham Forest over the summer, Taiwo Awoniyi is now missing through suspension for his return to the City Ground after being sent off against Brighton last weekend.

Frank Onyeka was a doubt but played both last weekend and in midweek, but Luke Woolfenden, Josh Eccles and Kaine Kesler-Hayden remain sidelined alongside Haji Wright. Aurele Amenda also limped off in midweek and so is a doubt.

Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Rushworth; Thomas, Pinnock, Mfuni; Van Ewijk, Onyeka, Grimes, Dasilva; Rudoni, Tchaouna; Cherif

Unavailable: Woolfenden (Injured), Kesler-Hayden (Injured), Eccles (Injured), Wright (Injured), Awoniyi (Suspended)

Questionable: Amenda (Injured)

Nottingham Forest vs Coventry prediction

Oliver Glasner endured a tough time of it in his opening couple of games against a resolute Leeds United side but his counter-attacking style has benefitted from games against more proactive opposition in Liverpool, Spurs and Villa. Coventry are not necessarily a stubborn defensive side but they surely have to seek to batten down the hatches here and so that may lead to a lower scoring affair but one in which Forest do remain the firm favourites with their home advantage.

Nottingham Forest vs Coventry tip: Nottingham Forest to win & under 3.5 goals