Leeds vs Nottingham Prediction

Elland Road tension: Leeds vs Nottingham prediction story

Circle Friday, 2026-02-06 (20:00 GMT): Elland Road hosts a match that feels less like a Friday night and more like a tightrope walk. This Leeds vs Nottingham prediction starts with one simple truth: both sides are level on 25 points, hovering just above the relegation line, and every tackle will sound a little louder because it is a survival “six-pointer”.

Why the mood is urgent (and why it may stay tight)

Leeds come in bruised after a 4-0 loss to Arsenal, but Daniel Farke’s message has been clear: make Elland Road count, and find a sharper edge in both boxes. Across the technical area will be Sean Dyche, who rarely asks his teams to win pretty—he asks them to win inches.

• Leeds form: D-L-W-D-L, with home energy likely to drive an early press.
• Forest form: L-W-D-W-D, built on resilience and staying in games.
• Table context: both on 25 points; the winner could open daylight to the drop, depending on other results.

Tactics: Farke’s press vs Dyche’s deep block

Expect Leeds to line up in a high-pressing 4-2.3-1, trying to turn Forest’s first touch into a mistake and their second touch into panic. The interesting wrinkle is Forest’s full-back situation: if their left side is makeshift, Leeds will fancy quick switches of play and wingers attacking the space before the block can slide across.

Dyche, on the other hand, can turn a football match into a long winter evening. Forest are likely to sit in a compact 4-4-1-1 (or 4-5-1 when defending), tempt Leeds forward, and then break with the pace and direct running of Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi. If the first 20 minutes pass without a goal, the plan will feel like it is working.

Team news that shapes the story

Leeds have a few moving parts. Lukas Nmecha is pushing to return after a hamstring problem, Jaka Bijol is working back from a thigh issue, while Daniel James is a major doubt with a long-term thigh problem. Gabriel Gudmundsson is being checked for a groin/hip concern. The good news is a creative boost: Facundo Buonanotte (loan from Brighton) is available, and young Edward Ibrovic-Fletcher arrived from Manchester United on deadline day.

Forest’s list reads like a manager’s sigh. Neco Williams is suspended after a straight red in a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace. First-choice keeper Matz Sels is out, meaning Angus Gunn or new signing Stefan Ortega could start. Ola Aina remains absent, and with Oleksandr Zinchenko’s loan ending early (now at Ajax), Forest are thin at left-back—hence the arrival of Luca Netz for a modest fee.

Background: head to head and recent reality checks

There is recent history to lean on. In the last head to head meeting on 2023-04-04, Leeds won 2-1. Leeds also have a strong home trend in this matchup, avoiding defeat at home to Forest across the last decade in all competitions. But Forest did win the reverse fixture this season (3-1 in November 2025), a reminder that narratives do not defend corners.

And both teams have shown they can spoil big nights: Leeds drew 0-0 away at Liverpool on 2026-01-01 despite massive 7.3 odds, while Forest held Arsenal to a 0-0 draw on 2026-01-17 when the Gunners were priced at 1.65. When these sides sense danger, they can lock the doors.

Leeds vs Nottingham prediction: odds, tips, and score call

The market sees Leeds as slight favourites: Home win 2.3, Draw 3.35, Away win 3.5. That pricing fits the classic Elland Road angle: Leeds may be less expensive on paper (squad value €321.03m) than Forest (€628.60m), but home rhythm and urgency can shrink that gap fast.

• Main betting tip: Under 3.5 goals at 1.29 (confidence 4.2/10). Our model also repeats Under 3.5 with confidence 4.3/10 at the same 1.29, so this is clearly the preferred lane.
• 1X2 lean: Leeds to win (1) at 2.3 (trust level 2.8/10). It is a lean, not a lock.

Here is how the numbers match the football: Leeds’ pressing should create moments, but Forest’s likely low block, plus their recent habit of grinding out low scores against elite opponents, points toward a match that stays controlled for long spells. Add the projected half-time score of 0-0, and the Under 3.5 bet reads like the “keep it sensible” option among the betting tips.

Our Leeds vs Nottingham prediction ends with a narrow home edge: expected final score 2-1, with Leeds doing just enough after the break—possibly through a burst of creativity from Buonanotte or a set-piece swing—while Forest keep it uncomfortable to the final whistle.