Date: February 11, 2025
Kick-off: 20:00 (GMT)
As the FA Cup reaches its final stage of this round, Exeter faces an incredibly tough challenge as they host Nottingham Forest. Despite the Grecians’ underwhelming season in League One, they’ve managed to progress this far, but will they be able to pull off an upset, much like Plymouth did against Liverpool? Or will Forest assert their Premier League superiority?
Exeter’s Struggles
Exeter’s season has been a difficult one, and it’s somewhat miraculous that they’ve made it this far in the FA Cup. The club currently finds themselves near the bottom of the League One standings, and their form in recent weeks has been dire. With just two wins in their last ten games, Exeter have conceded 46 goals in 29 games while only managing to score 33 goals. Their defence has been porous, and they’ve suffered heavy defeats recently, including a 4-1 loss, a 2-6 drubbing, and a 1-3 defeat. Their FA Cup run has been one of the few bright spots, with their only recent victory coming against Oxford United in the last round.
Nottingham Forest’s Rise
In stark contrast, Nottingham Forest is enjoying one of their best seasons in years. They sit in third place in the Premier League, having lost just once in their last ten matches, with eight of those being victories. Their only blip was a shocking 5-0 loss to Bournemouth, but they quickly bounced back with a resounding 7-0 win over Brighton. Under the guidance of Nuno Espirito Santo, Forest has become a well-drilled unit, particularly solid defensively, and they’ll likely be the heavy favourites to advance past Exeter in this matchup.
How the Bookies See It
There’s no surprise when it comes to the odds for this match. Nottingham Forest is the clear favourite, with odds of 1/4 to win. Exeter is priced at 7/1 for an upset, while a draw is available at 11/2.
Recent Head-to-Head: A Rare Encounter
The two teams haven’t faced each other in almost 70 years, as Nottingham Forest spent much of that time in the lower leagues. This will surely be the first and last encounter for the foreseeable future between the two clubs.
Players to Watch
- Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest): Despite limited Premier League minutes, Taiwo Awoniyi has been a regular starter in Forest’s FA Cup and EFL Cup lineups. The Nigerian striker has yet to score his first cup goal, and what better opportunity than against a team like Exeter? He’ll be looking to get off the mark in this competition, and he could be a key figure in the attack for Forest.
Probable Line-Ups
Exeter:
- Mahoney, Freeman, Sweeney, Piergianni, Freestone, Phillips, King, Roberts, Kemp, Reid, Appere
Nottingham Forest:
- Miguel, Toffolo, Boly, Morato, Moreno, da Silva Moreiro, Danilo, Silva, Yates, Sosa, Awoniyi
Other Betting Insights
- Clean Sheet for Forest: With Nottingham Forest boasting one of the Premier League’s best defences, the best bet here is for Forest to keep a clean sheet. Exeter’s struggles in front of goal and their leaky defence suggest that anything other than a Forest clean sheet would be a major surprise.
- Over 2.5 Goals: Given Exeter’s defensive issues and Forest’s attacking potential, it’s likely this match will feature at least three goals. Betting on over 2.5 goals could be a strong option here.
- Forest to Win by 3+ Goals: With the current disparity between the teams, Nottingham Forest is likely to win comfortably. A Forest victory by 3 or more goals could be a solid bet, especially if they score early and continue to dominate the match.
Prediction
Nottingham Forest should have no trouble seeing off Exeter in this FA Cup match. Given the form and quality of the two teams, it’s hard to see anything other than a Forest win. Exeter will likely struggle to contain Forest’s attack, and unless there’s a major shock, Forest will win by at least two or three goals.
Final Score Prediction: Exeter 0-3 Nottingham Forest
Betting Tips
- Nottingham Forest to win at 1/4
- Forest to keep a clean sheet
- Over 2.5 goals at Evens
- Forest to win by 3 or more goals at 6/4
This FA Cup match between Exeter and Nottingham Forest will take place on February 11, 2025, with kick-off at 20:00 (GMT). Make sure to check the latest betting odds and updates before placing your bets.