Forest team news: March and Wieffer ruled out

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Charlie Hanson

2025-01-30T15:55+00:00

Solly March will miss Saturday's game against Nottingham Forest. 📷 by James Boardman.

Albion take on Nottingham Forest this Saturday at the City Ground, kick-off 12.30pm.

Team news

Pervis Estupinan will be assessed ahead of Saturday's game against Forest. 📷 by James Boardman.

On the fitness of Solly March, Mats Wieffer and Pervis Estupinan: "I don't think that they are available. It doesn't look good [for the weekend].

On Evan Ferguson: "He trained for the first time yesterday, he's in good shape and we are very happy that he's back in our squad. I think if everything goes well with the last training sessions then for sure he will be an option."

Fabian's thoughts

On Forest's goal threat Chris Wood, "He is very athletic, very good and present in the box. He has a good nose for where he has to be when the ball is into his area. On top of that, he's not only good at protecting the ball, he's also good in attacking the spaces in behind. He's quite fast. He is a really good striker and his development is impressive.

Match facts

Forest are winless in their last three Premier League meetings with Brighton (D1 L2), having been unbeaten in their previous eight top-flight matches against the Seagulls (W6 D2).

Brighton won this fixture 3-2 last season – they’ve never before won consecutive away league games against Nottingham Forest.

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Albion came from behind to lead 2-1 at half-time. Jack Hinshelwood headed home the equaliser, and Danny Welbeck raised the Amex roof with a sublime free-kick. Albion continued to press and create chances in the second half, but were unable to breach the Forest defence, and they equalised against the run of play to earn a share of the spoils. Club photographers Paul Hazlewood, James Boardman and Bennett Dean were at the Amex to capture all the key moments.

Nottingham Forest’s eight-game unbeaten run came to an end last time out at Bournemouth, conceding more goals in that defeat (5) as they did in their previous seven Premier League games combined (4). Only once previously this season have they lost consecutive league matches, doing so in November against Newcastle and Arsenal.

Brighton’s six-game unbeaten run was ended last time out at home to Everton. The Seagulls have won just two of their last 11 Premier League games (D6 L3) and could lose consecutive matches for the first time since ending last season with back-to-back defeats.

Nottingham Forest have won six of their last eight Premier League home games (D1 L1), with five of those six victories coming by a one goal margin. This is just the second time they are kicking off at 12:30pm on a Saturday since their return to the Premier League, beating Liverpool 1-0 at the City Ground in October 2022 in their only previous game.

Brighton have scored the opening goal in ten of their 12 Premier League away games this season (including in each of their last five), more than any other side. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest have gone 1-0 up in 18 of their 23 league games overall this term, the most in the division.

Only Erling Haaland (17), Alexander Isak (16) and Mohamed Salah (14) have scored more non penalty goals in the Premier League this season than Forest striker Chris Wood (12). Wood has scored more goals against Brighton (9) than he has against any other side in his English league career.

Brighton’s João Pedro has six goal involvements in his last eight away appearances in the Premier League (2 goals, 4 assists), and netted a brace at the City Ground back in November 2023.

The average distance of Nottingham Forest’s goal kicks in the Premier League this season has been 43.7 metres, the highest of any side, while 121 of those have ended in the attacking half, 26 more than any other team. By contrast, only three sides have taken goal kicks at a shorter average distance than Brighton this campaign (23.4 metres).

Forest’s Ola Aina has taken 35 throw-ins that have ended in the opposition’s penalty area in the Premier League this season, seven more than any other player. In total, Forest have taken 56 throws that end in the opposition box, with only Brentford doing so more often (60).

Match officials