Football Tips: Expect goals galore in our 21/1 Forest v Man Utd Bet Builder

Here's the fanciesfor what looks a good cup tie on Wednesday night.

By / Football Tips / 2 months ago

Nottingham Forest v Man Utd Bet Builder Tips

Both Teams to Score
Bruno Fernandes to Have 3 or More Shots
Over 4.5 Cards
Nottingham Forest to Have 5 or More Shots on Target
Harry Maguire to Attempt 70 or More Passes

All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

The latest football odds are on PaddyPower.com now

Wednesday 7.45pm: Nottingham Forest v Manchester United
FA Cup Fifth Round match at The City Ground
TV: BBC One, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport Website

Both Teams to Score

Manchester United and Nottingham Forest have both endured a damaging few days – for a variety of different reasons. Both sides lost at the weekend, with United going down unexpectedly at home to Fulham and Forest losing at Villa Park in a result that most people would have predicted.

However, Forest’s week got a lot worse on Monday when Everton’s 10-point deduction was reduced to six points, seeing the Toffees leapfrog Forest in the league table. Forest now sit 17th in the league, although they do enjoy a four-point buffer over Luton. United, on the other hand, are back under the microscope once more after winning four league games on the bounce and forcing themselves back into the Champions League equation.

Both sides have been involved in high-scoring affairs of late, with Forest both scoring and conceding in 10 of their 12 games under Nuno Espirito Santo (including a 2-1 win over United in December). Forest have scored an impressive 23 goals in 12 games in all competitions since Santo took the reins late last year, but they have also conceded 24 in the same period.

United, on the other hand, have been involved in a number of high-scoring affairs in recent months, with both sides finding the back of the net in six of their last seven games in all competitions. Since beating Aston Villa 3-2 on Boxing Day, United have scored 24 goals in 10 games, conceding 15 goals in the same period and managing just two clean sheets.
It is highly likely that Both Teams Will Score on Wednesday night.

Bruno Fernandes to Have 3 or More Shots

It was Bruno Fernandes’ rather speculative shot that led to Manchester United’s equaliser on Saturday afternoon, with the Portuguese midfielder responsible for five shots on the day. Fernandes averages 2.6 shots per game for United this season, the highest average of any player at the club alongside Alejandro Garnacho.

On Wednesday, he faces a Forest side that concedes an average of over 13 shots per game this season and will likely try his luck on numerous occasions, especially considering Rasmus Hojlund’s enforced absence through injury. Fernandes has already scored twice in the FA Cup this season and will be desperate to do so again on Wednesday after receiving strong criticism for his performance on Saturday. As such, I fancy Fernandes to Have 3 Or More Shots.

Over 4.5 Cards

Forest and United sit side by side in the Premier League’s disciplinary table, with United receiving 62 bookings and one sending off in 26 games and Forest receiving 54 yellow cards and three dismissals. Both sides average well over two cards per game, with United picking up 14 in their last five games.

There also seems to be a bit of bite when they face off against one another, with six cards issued at the City Ground last December and nine issued at Old Trafford back in August, including one of Forest’s three red cards this season. There is a good chance that there will be at least five cards issued on Wednesday.

Nottingham Forest to Have 5 or More Shots on Target

United’s difficulties with preventing shots has been well documented of late, but it is worth pointing out some of the grimmer statistics. Despite collecting 13 points from their last six league games, United have faced a whopping 116 shots at a rate of almost 20 per game.

They have faced an average of 16 shots per game in the league this season – the fourth-highest in the division – and have faced 28 shots on target in their last four away games, which includes seven shots on target a trip to League Two Newport. United will almost certainly give Forest chances when the sides meet at the City Ground on Wednesday night, and Santo’s side will surely pepper the United goal with shots so we’ll take at least five.

Harry Maguire to Attempt 70 or More Passes

United’s average of 51% possession is unremarkable compared to other sides in the top six, but it is significantly higher than Forest’s average of 40.3%, the third-lowest average in the league. United will likely dominate the ball on Wednesday night, considering they enjoyed 55% of the ball in the City Ground last December and 67% possession at Old Trafford earlier in the season.

Since a lot of United’s build up play involves ponderous possession along the back four, Harry Maguire is likely to see a lot of the ball on Wednesday. Maguire only averages 48 passes per game for United this season, but that average is brought down by three late substitute appearances.

He also completes around 84% of the passes he attempts, meaning he attempts around 57 passes per game. Considering he is playing a possession-shy Nottingham Forest, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if Maguire attempted at least 70 passes at the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest v Man United Betting Tips

Both Teams to Score
Bruno Fernandes to Have 3 or More Shots
Over 4.5 Cards
Nottingham Forest to Have 5 or More Shots on Target
Harry Maguire to Attempt 70 or More Passes

All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

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The latest football odds are on PaddyPower.com now

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