Ipswich Town welcome Nottingham Forest to Portman Road on Friday looking to consolidate their place in the top half of the table after a topsy-turvy return to Premier League.

Last season's Championship runners-up have blown hot and cold in the opening seven games, winning three and losing four, with draws seemingly off the table for Gary O'Neil's side, who sit 10th.

One thing Ipswich fans can be assured of is that their team will fight until the end of each game. All three of those wins – over Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Fulham, have come through late winners.

They also scored consolations at the death in defeats by the two Manchester clubs, meaning their total of five goals netted in the 90th minute or later is more than any other side have managed this term.

Two of those have come from Zian Flemming. The Dutchman, who was top scorer for relegated Burnley last season, has made an impact since joining from the Clarets for an initial fee of £17m on transfer deadline day, with two goals in five substitute appearances. The ex-Millwall striker's next top-flight goal will be his 50th in English league football.

Ipswich manager O'Neil is unlikely to repeat the 3-4-2-1 system deployed in last week's loss to Manchester City. With midfielder Sasa Lukic hoping to be available again after a groin issue, a return to the usual 4-2-3-1 system is expected against an opponent O'Neil has a decent record against.

The former Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers boss hasn't lost in his five previous Premier League matches against Forest, winning one and drawing four; - the most games he has managed against any club without suffering defeat in this competition.

Nottingham Forest head coach Oliver Glasner is one of several Premier League bosses in dire need of a win to stave off the threat of losing his job.

The Austrian, who moved to the City Ground just 40 days after guiding Crystal Palace to Conference League glory, is already under intense scrutiny after only one win in seven league games.

Forest have scored just five league goals, fewer than any other team in the division, and sit second-bottom with a tricky run before the November international window. Their xG underperformance of -6.2 is the worst in the division, with marquee summer signing Liam Delap netting just once.

Delap was Ipswich's top scorer in their previous Premier League campaign in 2024-25. Having scored with his third shot for Forest this term, the £45m summer signing from Chelsea has had a further 15 attempts without success.

"I don't see it as a massive problem because we're creating enough situations," Glasner said this week in reference to the goalscoring issue, although Forest fans might not entirely agree. The Tricky Trees have failed to score in four different top-flight games this season, with no side drawing a blank more often.

Forest have lost their past three league games, more defeats than in their previous 14. With last season's top scorer Morgan Gibbs-White fit again for the trip to Suffolk, Glasner will be hoping his men can arrest this worrying decline in form.