Nottingham Forest v Leicester predictions: Tight tie could go all the way

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Nottingham Forest v Leicester City in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday.

Where to watch

BBC One, 4pm Sunday

Best bet

Draw
1pt 11-4 Betfred

Team news

Nottingham Forest
Lewis Grabban (ankle) misses out but new signings Sam Surridge and Jonathan Panzo are in contention. Steve Cook (calf) is a doubt and Joe Worrall (ribs) remains absent.

Leicester
Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho are back from international duty but Ryan Bertrand, Timothy Castagne, Jonny Evans, Jamie Vardy and Wesley Fofana are injured and Nampalys Mendy is at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Match preview

Leicester lost out to Liverpool in the League Cup quarter-finals after fluffing their lines in the penalty shootout but they may get the chance to make amends in their FA Cup fourth round tie at Nottingham Forest which could be decided by extra-time or spot-kicks.

Foxes' manager Brendan Rodgers loves knockout competitions and famously led Leicester to FA Cup glory last season.

He has next Thursday's Premier League trip to Liverpool to consider but is likely to put out a strong side and his options are increased by the return of Nigerian duo Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho from the Africa Cup of Nations.

Recent Premier League results have been hugely frustrating for the Foxes, who shipped two injury-time goals in the 3-2 loss at home to Tottenham, before conceding an 82nd-minute equaliser in their 1-1 draw at home to Brighton.

Qualifying for Europe via a lofty league finish is looking unlikely, but the FA Cup offers a potential route into the Europa League and Leicester know they have what it takes to lift the trophy.

If Leicester are to go all the way they will need to overcome some difficult obstacles, and their fourth round tie looks a tricky one due to the East Midlands derby atmosphere and a decent standard of opposition.

Nottingham Forest were beaten 2-1 at Cardiff last Sunday, but that was only their fourth reverse in 22 matches under Steve Cooper, who took the job in late September.

Cooper has steered them from second-bottom to eight in the Championship and remains hopeful of securing one of the playoff places.

However, the 42-year-old also wants his team to make an impression in the FA Cup and he will have been delighted with the discipline and quality shown during the 1-0 third round success at home to Arsenal.

Forest carried the greater threat against the Gunners and deserved their victory, but the match-winner, Lewis Grabban, is unable to face Leicester due to an ankle injury sustained in last weekend's loss at Cardiff.

New signing Sam Surridge or Aston Villa loanee Keinan Davis are options to lead the line but neither can match the predatory instincts of Grabban, who has bagged eight goals in his last 14 appearances.

While Forest are without their main goal-threat, Leicester must make do without Jamie Vardy, who isn't expected to return until sometime next month.

The Foxes have plenty of attacking alternatives with Patson Daka, Harvey Barnes, Iheanacho, Ayoze Perez and Ademola Lookman jostling for places, but Vardy's killer instinct is always going to be missed.

FA Cup ties are often decided by one moment of ice-cold finishing and, with both teams missing their most reliable goalscorers, it increases the chances of a close game which has every chance of going to extra-time and possibly beyond.

Key stat

Three of Leicester's last five domestic away games have been draws at the end of normal time.

Inside info

Nottingham Forest

Penalty taker Philipp Zinckernagel
Free-kick wizard Philipp Zinckernagel
Set-piece aerial threat Scott McKenna
Card magnet Jack Colback

Leicester

Penalty taker Youri Tielemans
Free-kick wizardJames Maddison
Set-piece aerial threatCaglar Soyuncu
Card magnetYouri Tielemans

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