Nottingham Forest have a golden chance to pull clear of the relegation zone by beating the team directly below them tonight.
West Ham became the first team all season to lose to Wolves on Saturday, with the Hammers trailing 3-0 at the half-time interval.
Forest lost 3-1 to a rampant Aston Villa team, and with four successive defeats for Sean Dyche, he will be feeling the heat just like Nuno Espirito Santo is.
Forest can put seven points between themselves and the relegation zone tonight and ahead of the contest at The London Stadium, Chris Sutton has delivered his prediction.
Chris Sutton predicts outcome of Nottingham Forest clash with West Ham
This really is a huge game for both clubs and given how toxic the atmosphere is around West Ham at the moment, they need the three points just as badly as Forest do.
Forest have a good chance tonight though and need to park the last four defeats and come out to try and win the game as opposed to trying not to lose it.
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Sutton thinks will earn themselves a big three points tonight, predicting a 1-0 victory for the Reds with West Ham plunged further into relegation trouble.
He told BBC Sport: “Nottingham Forest have lost four games in a row but West Ham are in even worse shape.
“The manner of their defeat at Wolves on Saturday has cranked up the pressure on Hammers manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
“West Ham beat Forest 3-0 earlier this season but, unfortunately for Nuno, that was when he was still Forest boss – it was his last game in charge.
“He could do with another 3-0 West Ham win this time, but I don’t see it happening.
It is a nightmare for them to be at home, really, because you can imagine what the mood will be like inside the stadium before kick-off.
“I don’t think it will have improved by full-time, either. I just have a feeling Sean Dyche’s Forest will have a bit more nous, and will sneak a narrow win.”
Forest can’t blow latest golden chance – it could be their last
Sticking seven points between Forest and the relegation zone would be simply huge at this stage of the season and West Ham would be in serious trouble at that point.
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However, Forest have been in this position before, and it’s now vital that the Reds grasp the chance to really prove to the fan base that they’re serious about remaining as a Premier League club.
Forest have been pretty drab – Manchester City at home aside – in recent weeks and fans have started to really turn on Dyche in recent weeks after the performance levels dipped.
The hope will be that Sutton is spot on tonight and the Reds give themselves some breathing space in the fight against relegation from the Premier League.
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