Brighton and Hove Albion vs Nottingham Forest: Betting Odds, Lineups, Predictions, Preview

Explore our detailed preview for Brighton vs Nottingham Forest in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. Stats, odds, predictions, and lineups for the 17:15 GMT match.

Fixture: Brighton & Hove Albion vs Nottingham Forest
Date: Saturday 29 March 2025
Kick-off: 17:15 GMT
Venue: American Express Stadium

Brighton and Hove Albion enter as clear favourites and have shown they can grind out results in tense cup situations. Forest’s unpredictability and cup resilience — especially from the spot — make them dangerous opponents. If Brighton controls possession and dictates pace early, their quality in the final third should see them edge it. But Forest’s chaotic energy and penalty pedigree mean they won’t be ruled out easily.

Match Prediction: Brighton 2-1 Nottingham Forest

• Both Teams to Score – Yes: A feature in 5 of Forest’s last 6 matches
• Nottingham Forest to win on penalties: History suggests a possibility – they’ve progressed via shoot-outs in the last two rounds
• Georginio Rutter – Anytime Goalscorer: Scored in three of the last four FA Cup games
• Over 2.5 goals: Likely given recent scoring patterns and both sides’ attacking profiles
  

Brighton and Nottingham Forest meet on the south coast for a place at Wembley in what promises to be a compelling FA Cup quarter-final. Both sides have impressed this season — Brighton with their technical control and sharp attacking play, and Forest with an unpredictable, spirited style that has delivered results in key moments.

This is Brighton’s third quarter-final in seven seasons, and they’ve progressed to the last four in each of the previous two. Forest, meanwhile, are aiming to reach their first semi-final since 1991, having fallen at this stage in both 1996 and 2022.

•  2–2 vs Manchester City (A)
• 2–1 vs Fulham (H)
• 2–1 vs Newcastle (A) – FA Cup
• 2–1 vs Bournemouth (H)
• 4–0 vs Southampton (A)
• 3–0 vs Chelsea (H)
  

•  4–2 vs Ipswich (A)
• 1–0 vs Manchester City (H)
• 1–1 (5–4 pens) vs Ipswich (H) - FA Cup
• 0–0 vs Arsenal (H)
• 3–4 vs Newcastle (A)
• 1–2 vs Fulham (A)
  

• 4–0 vs Norwich City (Third Round)
• 2–1 vs Chelsea (Fourth Round)
• 2–1 AET vs Newcastle United (Fifth Round)
  

• 2–0 vs Luton Town (Third Round)
• 2–2 (4–2 pens) vs Exeter City (Fourth Round)
• 1–1 (5–4 pens) vs Ipswich Town (Fifth Round)
  

• Brighton wins: 7
• Nottingham Forest wins: 5
• Draws: 6

Nottingham Forest thrashed Brighton 7–0 in their last meeting, just two months ago. However, Brighton had gone unbeaten in four straight H2Hs before that.

Brighton (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen – Hinshelwood, Van Hecke, Webster, Estupiñán – Gilmour, Baleba – Rutter, Joao Pedro, Mitoma – Welbeck

Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Sels – Williams, Murillo, Milenkovic, Aina– Dominguez, Anderson – Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Elanga – Awoniyi

• Out: Igor Julio (thigh), James Milner (hamstring), Ferdi Kadioglu (toe), Jason Steele (shoulder), Tariq Lamptey (ankle)
• Doubtful: Lewis Dunk, Joel Veltman, Matthew O’Riley, Solly March
  

• Out: Carlos Miguel (hamstring)
• Doubtful: Chris Wood (hip)
  

• Danny Welbeck (Brighton): Match-winner against Newcastle in the last round, and thrives in tight knockout ties. His movement and experience will be vital.
• Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest): Forest’s creative heartbeat, capable of threading passes through lines and dictating attacking tempo. Key to Forest's transitions.
• Georginio Rutter (Brighton) – Three goals in his last four FA Cup appearances. A threat in unpredictable phases of play.
  

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For the best FA Cup outright predictions, explore our Football Outright Betting guide.

Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.