Two wins, Igor Jesus goal and £30m star comes good, predicting Nottingham Forest in August after fixture release

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On Wednesday morning, the Premier League fixture list for 2025/26 dropped, and Nottingham Forest supporters will be excited once again.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s team will start at home again, with Brentford the visitors to the City Ground for the curtain-raiser.

Last year, Forest drew at home to Bournemouth on the first day and in 2023, the Reds were beaten by Arsenal when Steve Cooper was still in charge.

Brentford beat Forest on Trentside last season, and the fixture won’t be an easy one, even if Thomas Frank has now joined Tottenham ahead of the new season.

Forest had plenty of positive moments during the last campaign, and with the fixtures now released, the excitement for another Premier League season will build.

With plans now in place, we got thinking how the first month could pan out and it delivers optimism that a positive start to the season can be on the cards.

• READ MORE: Tough month rears ugly head for Nuno Espirito Santo

Nottingham Forest win two of their first three fixtures

Forest face Brentford, who beat them on the opening day of the campaign, but the next two games are against Crystal Palace and West Ham, who both had limited success against the Reds last season.

Forest beat West Ham twice, including a massacre at the City Ground, whilst four points were taken from Palace in 2024/25.

We actually think both home games will end in victories to kick off the 2025/26 campaign, with a draw potentially on the cards for the trip to Selhurst Park too.

Igor Jesus scores during first month of the Premier League season

Having two games on home soil should help Jesus settle into English football.

The 24-year-old will likely earn a rest after the Club World Cup, but he will be desperately hoping to hit the ground running when he arrives at Forest.

Forest will get chances in all of their first three matches and it’s hard to bet against Jesus getting his first goal in the Premier League during one of those contests.

Ibrahim Sangare becomes integral to Forest fortunes

Last season, Sangare started the season well and finished it in style, too.

The next campaign needs to be the one where Sangare avoids a long-term injury and really proves that he’s accustomed to life in the Premier League.

These opening three games aren’t against teams considered among the division’s big six, and as a result, the run represents a real opportunity for Sangare to pick up where he left off last season.