Our betting expert has three Brighton vs Nottingham Forest tips for Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final tie at the Amex (kick-off, 5.15pm). Scroll down for the analysis behind his selections.
By Luke Seychell
- Over 3.5 goals @ 7/4 with bet365
- Morgan Gibbs-White to score or assist @ 2/1 with bet365
- Over six cards in the match and Taiwo Awoniyi 1+ shots on target @ 8/1 with bet365
Amex set for potential cup classic
Brighton and Nottingham Forest may have never met in the FA Cup before, but this will be the third time they have locked horns this season and if their two Premier League encounters are anything to go by, then this could be an enthralling tie.
After sharing the spoils in a 2-2 draw at the Amex in September, Forest then blew Brighton away at the City Ground last month, running out emphatic 7-0 winners.
That defeat was a rare low point for Brighton this season, but they have certainly bounced back since, embarking on a six-match winning run that was only ended by what was still a spirited 2-2 draw at Manchester City before the international break.
The Seagulls have scored two or more goals in each of their last seven games, but with only two clean sheets over the same period, attack could once again be their best form of defence on Saturday.
Forest have also been amongst the goals of late, netting in seven of their last eight, a run that began with their seven-goal haul against Brighton and most recently saw them run in four in a 4-2 win at Ipswich.
The confirmed absence of 18-goal leading scorer Chris Wood with a hip injury will dent Forest’s firepower, but head coach Nuno Espirito Santo still has the attacking talents of Morgan Gibbs-White, Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi at his disposal.
Over 3.5 goals has been a winning bet in four of the last five meetings between these two sides and with 11 scored across this season’s two clashes alone, Saturday’s quarter-final could prove another open and entertaining affair.
- Brighton vs Nottingham Forest Tip 1: Over 3.5 goals @ 7/4 with bet365
Gibbs-White with point to prove
Given his impressive form this season, it was a surprise to many that Forest ace Gibbs-White was initially omitted from Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad and then, once drafted in, failed to receive any minutes in the matches against Albania and Latvia.
England’s loss could be Forest’s gain, however, as Gibbs-White will undoubtedly have a point to prove this weekend against a Brighton side he has featured prominently against already this season.
The 25-year-old was sent off in September’s 2-2 draw at the Amex before getting on the scoresheet in last month’s 7-0 win for Forest.
That strike at the City Ground was Gibbs-White’s fifth goal involvement in eight previous appearances against Brighton, four of which – three goals and an assist – have come during his time with Forest.
Never one to shirk responsibility and with extra motivation to remind people of what he can do, Gibbs-White could easily score or assist on Saturday, perhaps even both.
- Brighton vs Nottingham Forest Tip 2: Morgan Gibbs-White to score or assist @ 2/1 with bet365
Recent history hints at feisty cup battle
Not only have the goals tended to flow in recent meetings between these sides, but there have also been plenty of cards shown, with seven or more yellows being handed out by the referee in three of the last four encounters.
There have also been two reds cards shown during that time, with Gibbs-White’s earlier this season coming off the back of Brighton captain Lewis Dunk receiving his marching orders at the City Ground in November 2023.
With so much at stake in what is a cup quarter-final, it is easy to envisage at least six cards being dished out on Saturday, while the second part of this bet builder focuses on Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi, who is likely to lead the line in Wood’s absence.
Awoniyi’s three starts this calendar year have all come in the FA Cup and he has fired off seven shots in those games, five of which have been on target.
In what is expected to be an open and attacking tie, Awoniyi can easily test the home team’s goalkeeper at least once at the Amex.
- Brighton vs Nottingham Forest Tip 3: Over six cards in the match and Taiwo Awoniyi 1+ shots on target @ 8/1 with bet365
