Ipswich Town host Nottingham Forest in a Premier League Gameweek 8 fixture at Portman Road on Friday, 23 October 2026.
Gary O’Neil’s side are 10th in the table with nine points from seven matches, while Oliver Glasner’s Forest sit second-from-bottom in 19th on five points, level on goal difference with their hosts at -4. Forest have lost their last three Premier League games, most recently a 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal, and Glasner’s side are the lowest scorers in the division with five goals all season. Ipswich arrive on the back of a 3-2 defeat at Manchester City having lost four of their last six league fixtures, leaving both managers in need of a response.
Ipswich Town vs Nottingham Forest – Match preview and team news
- Date: Friday, 23 October 2026
- Kick-off: 20:00 BST
- Venue: Portman Road
- Referee: Thomas Bramall
- Last meeting: Nottingham Forest 4-2 Ipswich Town, 15 March 2025, Premier League
Team news
Ipswich Town
Sasa Lukic will miss out through a groin injury, with Gary O’Neil confirming: “Sasa will be out tomorrow. It’s taken a little bit longer.” The midfielder is being managed with a view to returning against Hull City on 31 October rather than being risked sooner. No other Ipswich player is a fresh absence, with Florentino Luís and Exequiel Palacios set to continue as the central midfield pairing in Lukic’s absence.
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest remain without Igor Jesus (calf) and Nicolò Savona (knee), but Morgan Gibbs-White is available having trained fully after missing the Arsenal defeat with a muscle issue. Oliver Glasner confirmed: “He’s ready, he trained for the entire week, so no issues.” Nikola Milenković is also fit and in contention having been an unused substitute last time out.
Form
Ipswich Town
Ipswich have won three and lost four of their seven Premier League matches so far this season, scoring 11 goals and conceding 15. They go into the Forest game on the back of a 3-2 defeat at Manchester City, their fourth loss in six league outings.
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest have won just once in seven matches, with two draws and four defeats leaving them 19th, their five goals scored the fewest of any side in the division. Friday’s trip follows a third straight league defeat, a narrow 1-0 loss to Arsenal, and Glasner’s side have won only once away from home this season.
Predicted lineups
Ipswich Town possible starting XI: Walton; O’Shea, Diop, Greaves; Ouattara, Florentino, Palacios, Davis; Maeda, Emersonn, Enciso
Nottingham Forest possible starting XI: Sels; Cunha, Diomande, Murillo; Munoz, McAtee, Schlager, Williams; Gibbs-White, Delap, Ndoye
How to watch Ipswich Town vs Nottingham Forest?
The match will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports.
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