Sunderland host Nottingham Forest at the Stadium of Light on April 24, 2026, in a Premier League fixture with important consequences for both clubs. Sunderland enter the game in 11th place with 46 points and still harbouring hopes of forcing their way into the battle for European qualification.
Their previous outing produced one of the most dramatic matches of their season, a 4-3 defeat away to Aston Villa in which the Black Cats fought back from 3-1 down before conceding a stoppage-time winner. Nottingham Forest arrive with a very different priority.
Vítor Pereira's side sit 16th with 36 points, five clear of the relegation zone, and are attempting to complete their Premier League survival push while also preparing for a Europa League semi-final against Aston Villa.
Forest's recent form gives them considerable encouragement. They enter the match unbeaten in seven games across all competitions, while Sunderland will be looking to rediscover the home form that made the Stadium of Light such a difficult venue earlier in the season. The recent head-to-head record, however, strongly favours Sunderland.
Read Also: Barcelona vs Celta Vigo Head-to-Head 2026: Last 10 Meetings, Results & Analysis
Sunderland vs Nottingham Forest: Last 10 Meetings
Because Sunderland and Nottingham Forest have spent long periods in different divisions, their previous 10 competitive meetings stretch back to 1997 and include Premier League, Championship and League Cup fixtures.
Across the 10 meetings immediately before April 24, 2026:
Sunderland wins: 7
Nottingham Forest wins: 2
Draws: 1
Sunderland goals: 13
Nottingham Forest goals: 6
Total goals: 19
Average goals per match: 1.9
The previous 10 competitive results were:
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Sunderland — September 2025
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Sunderland — December 2017
Sunderland 0-1 Nottingham Forest — September 2017
Nottingham Forest 1-2 Sunderland — August 2008
Nottingham Forest 1-2 Sunderland — December 2004
Sunderland 2-0 Nottingham Forest — September 2004
Sunderland 1-0 Nottingham Forest — January 2004
Nottingham Forest 2-0 Sunderland — August 2003
Nottingham Forest 0-3 Sunderland — March 1998
Sunderland 1-1 Nottingham Forest — November 1997
That sequence gives Sunderland a considerably stronger recent historical record than Forest. It also reveals something else about the fixture: goals have generally been difficult to come by. Seven of those 10 matches produced two goals or fewer.
Sunderland Won the Reverse Fixture at the City Ground
The most recent meeting came at the City Ground on September 27, 2025, when Sunderland secured a 1-0 Premier League victory. Omar Alderete scored the only goal in the 38th minute, converting from a Granit Xhaka free-kick.
Forest applied considerable pressure in the second half, but Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs made several important saves as the visitors protected their lead and returned home with all three points.
The victory was especially impressive given Sunderland's status as a newly promoted team. At that point in the season, the result lifted the Black Cats as high as third in the Premier League after three victories from their opening six matches.
For Forest, the reverse fixture provides a clear warning. They created chances but failed to turn pressure into goals, while Sunderland demonstrated the defensive discipline required to protect a narrow advantage.
Sunderland Have Won the Last Two Meetings
Sunderland also won the meeting immediately before the September 2025 fixture. That came in December 2017, when the Black Cats travelled to the City Ground in the Championship and recorded another 1-0 victory.
Interestingly, the three meetings immediately before the April 2026 fixture all finished 1-0 to the away team. Forest won 1-0 at Sunderland in September 2017, Sunderland responded with a 1-0 victory at Forest later that season, and the Black Cats repeated the scoreline at the City Ground in September 2025.
That recent sequence highlights how finely balanced individual matches between the clubs can be, even though Sunderland hold the stronger longer-term head-to-head record.
Forest's Last Win at the Stadium of Light Came in 2017
Nottingham Forest can take some encouragement from their most recent visit to the Stadium of Light before this season. In September 2017, Forest won 1-0, with Daryl Murphy scoring the decisive goal.
However, that victory was Forest's first win at Sunderland since 1993. The historical record therefore suggests the Stadium of Light has often been a difficult venue for Forest. Sunderland's strong home performances during the 2025/26 campaign add another layer to that challenge.
Sunderland's Home Record Has Been a Major Strength
The Stadium of Light played a major role in Sunderland's successful return to the Premier League. Régis Le Bris' side began the campaign unbeaten in their first 12 home league matches, establishing the ground as one of their biggest advantages.
Their more recent home form had become less convincing, though. Sunderland lost three of their four home league matches immediately before the Forest fixture. That creates an interesting contrast.
Across the season as a whole, Sunderland had been difficult to beat at home. But the momentum at the Stadium of Light was no longer quite as strong as it had been earlier in the campaign. The match against Forest therefore represented an opportunity to restore some of that confidence.
Read Also: Burnley vs Manchester City Head-to-Head 2026: Last 10 Meetings, Results & Analysis
Sunderland Were Still Chasing Europe
Few would have expected newly promoted Sunderland to reach late April still discussing European qualification. Yet their performances had kept that possibility alive. The Black Cats entered the fixture 11th with 46 points, with the middle of the Premier League table extremely congested.
Several clubs between sixth and 12th remained involved in the battle for the available European places. That meant a couple of victories could quickly change Sunderland's position. Their challenge was consistency.
Le Bris' team had demonstrated that they could compete against strong opponents, but individual defensive mistakes had also cost them points. That was evident in their previous match against Aston Villa.
Sunderland's 4-3 Defeat at Aston Villa Showed Both Sides of Their Game
Sunderland's visit to Villa Park on April 19 produced one of the Premier League's most dramatic matches of the weekend. Aston Villa appeared to be in control when they led 3-1 late in the second half. Sunderland refused to accept defeat.
Trai Hume and Wilson Isidor scored within 58 seconds of each other to make it 3-3, and Sunderland then came close to taking the lead when Habib Diarra went through on goal. Emiliano Martínez denied the chance before Tammy Abraham scored for Villa in stoppage time to secure a 4-3 victory. The defeat demonstrated Sunderland's attacking resilience. It also exposed defensive problems that Forest would be eager to exploit.
Chris Rigg Continued to Impress
One of Sunderland's biggest positives this season has been the development of Chris Rigg. The teenager scored an impressive goal against Aston Villa and became only the third teenager to score for Sunderland in the Premier League, following Michael Bridges and Connor Wickham.
Rigg provides energy, technical quality and the ability to move between midfield and attacking areas. Against Forest, his movement could be particularly useful. Pereira's team have become more aggressive in transition, meaning Sunderland need midfielders who can receive possession under pressure and move the ball forward quickly.
Brian Brobbey Provides Sunderland's Central Threat
Brian Brobbey had emerged as Sunderland's leading Premier League scorer heading into the fixture, with six league goals. His physical strength gives Sunderland a focal point through the middle. Brobbey can occupy centre-backs, receive direct passes and create space for players such as Rigg, Habib Diarra and Enzo Le Fée to attack around him.
That could be important against a Forest defence missing several established players. If Sunderland can isolate Brobbey against Forest's central defenders, they may find opportunities to move the game higher up the pitch.
Read Also: AFC Bournemouth vs Leeds United Head-to-Head 2026: Last 10 Meetings, Results & Analysis
Sunderland's Tactical Approach
Under Régis Le Bris, Sunderland have shown enough flexibility to alter their approach depending on the opponent. They are comfortable using possession but are often at their most dangerous when they can move the ball forward quickly after recovering it.
Against Forest, Sunderland are likely to want to:
use the home crowd to start aggressively;
progress quickly through midfield;
create space for Rigg and Diarra between the lines;
use Brobbey as a central reference point;
attack Forest's defensive absences;
avoid becoming vulnerable to counterattacks.
The final point may be the most important. Forest have become increasingly dangerous when matches open up. Sunderland cannot afford to commit too many players forward and give Morgan Gibbs-White space to attack.
Nottingham Forest Enter in Their Best Form of the Season
Forest's league position does not fully reflect the form they were carrying into the Stadium of Light. Pereira's side had gone seven matches unbeaten across all competitions, winning four and drawing three. In the Premier League alone, they entered the Sunderland fixture five games unbeaten.
That sequence had created valuable breathing room above the relegation zone. Forest were now five points clear of 18th-placed Tottenham, giving them control over their own survival prospects. The transformation under Pereira had been significant. Instead of simply trying to survive matches, Forest had begun playing with far greater confidence and attacking intent.
Forest's 4-1 Win Over Burnley Was a Major Statement
Their previous Premier League match provided the clearest example of that improvement. Forest fell behind against Burnley at the City Ground but produced a remarkable second-half response to win 4-1. Morgan Gibbs-White scored a hat-trick in only 15 minutes, while Igor Jesus added a fourth in stoppage time.
The victory moved Forest five points clear of the relegation zone. It was also their first home league win since December and arrived only days after a demanding Europa League quarter-final. That combination of domestic and European success showed that Pereira's side were growing in confidence at exactly the right stage of the season.
Morgan Gibbs-White Was in Outstanding Form
No player entered the Sunderland match with more confidence than Morgan Gibbs-White. His hat-trick against Burnley took him to 12 Premier League goals for the season, making it the most productive league campaign of his career to that point.
He had also scored the decisive goal against Porto in Europe only days earlier, helping Forest secure their place in the Europa League semi-finals. That meant Gibbs-White entered the Sunderland match with four goals across his previous two appearances.
His influence goes beyond finishing. As Forest captain, he provides creativity, carries the ball through transition and can create chances for the forwards around him. Sunderland's midfield needs to prevent him from receiving possession freely in the spaces between midfield and defence.
Chris Wood Gives Forest a Different Dimension
Chris Wood's presence also gives Forest a physical attacking option. His ability to compete with centre-backs, hold the ball and finish inside the penalty area gives Pereira a player capable of changing how Forest attack.
Forest can play through midfield when space is available, but they can also bypass pressure with more direct passes towards Wood. That flexibility makes them harder to defend. Sunderland cannot simply press aggressively and assume Forest will struggle to progress. If the Black Cats leave too much space behind their midfield, Forest have several ways to exploit it.
Forest Were Also Preparing for a Europa League Semi-Final
Another important part of Forest's season was their unexpected European run. They had just eliminated Porto to reach the Europa League semi-finals, their first major European semi-final since the 1980s. Their next opponent would be Aston Villa, with the first leg scheduled for April 30.
That created a difficult balancing act for Pereira. Premier League survival remained the immediate priority, but Forest were also within two matches of a European final. Squad management and fatigue could therefore become factors. However, their performance against Burnley suggested the European campaign had not reduced their domestic intensity.
Forest's Survival Position Had Improved but Was Not Secure
The victory over Burnley moved Forest to 36 points from 33 matches, five clear of Tottenham in the relegation zone. That was a major improvement, but survival was not yet guaranteed. With five league matches remaining, another victory could significantly reduce the danger.
That meant Forest were unlikely to arrive at Sunderland distracted by Europe. From Pereira's perspective, securing Premier League status as quickly as possible would make it much easier to concentrate on the Europa League semi-final afterwards.
Sunderland Team News
Sunderland entered the fixture with several fitness concerns. Simon Moore and Romaine Mundle were ruled out. Jocelin Ta Bi, Bertrand Traoré, Nilson Angulo and Omar Alderete were all listed as doubts in the build-up to the match. Alderete's availability was particularly important.
He had scored Sunderland's winner in the reverse fixture at the City Ground and had become an important part of their defensive structure. If unavailable, Le Bris would need to adjust a defence that had just conceded four times against Aston Villa.
Nottingham Forest Team News
Forest also entered the match with significant absences. Murillo was expected to miss out after suffering a thigh or hamstring problem against Burnley. Callum Hudson-Odoi was ruled out for the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery on a right quadriceps injury suffered during Forest's Europa League quarter-final against Porto.
Willy Boly, Nicolò Savona and goalkeeper John Victor were also unavailable, while Dan Ndoye faced a fitness assessment. Those absences reduced Pereira's defensive options. However, Forest's improved attacking form meant they were no longer relying solely on defensive resistance to collect points.
How Nottingham Forest Could Approach the Match
Forest's strongest route into the game may be through quick transitions. Sunderland will want to attack at home, particularly with European qualification still theoretically within reach. That could create opportunities for Forest.
Pereira's side can look to:
defend compactly when Sunderland have possession;
force turnovers in midfield;
release Gibbs-White quickly;
use Wood or Igor Jesus as central targets;
attack spaces behind Sunderland's wide defenders;
make set pieces count.
The danger for Sunderland is becoming too ambitious. Forest have the attacking players to punish a team that leaves too much space behind the ball.
How Sunderland Could Hurt Forest
Forest's injury problems provide Sunderland with opportunities. Without Murillo and Hudson-Odoi, the visitors have fewer established options at both ends of the pitch. Sunderland should look to move the ball quickly enough to prevent Forest's defensive structure from settling. Their wide players could also attempt to isolate Forest defenders one-on-one.
The Black Cats need to:
move possession quickly through midfield;
create chances before Forest organise behind the ball;
use Brobbey's physical presence;
involve Rigg in advanced areas;
avoid cheap turnovers;
maintain defensive balance when attacking.
If Sunderland can control the match without opening themselves up to Forest's transitions, home advantage could become increasingly important.
The Midfield Battle Could Decide the Match
The central areas may be the most important part of the game. Sunderland have experience through Granit Xhaka and energy from younger players around him. Forest can counter with Elliot Anderson and Ibrahim Sangaré, while Gibbs-White frequently drops into areas where he can influence the buildup.
Whichever side controls second balls and broken phases could gain a major advantage. This may be especially important given the relatively low-scoring history of the fixture. The previous 10 meetings averaged only 1.9 goals per game. In matches where clear chances are limited, controlling midfield territory becomes even more valuable.
Sunderland vs Nottingham Forest Goal Trends
Unlike several modern Premier League head-to-head matchups, Sunderland vs Forest had historically been relatively low-scoring. The previous 10 competitive meetings produced only 19 goals. Sunderland scored 13 and Forest scored six.
Recent scorelines included:
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Sunderland
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Sunderland
Sunderland 0-1 Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest 1-2 Sunderland
Sunderland 2-0 Nottingham Forest
Sunderland 1-0 Nottingham Forest
That makes the 4-3 Sunderland defeat to Aston Villa and Forest's 4-1 win over Burnley particularly interesting. Both clubs entered this meeting after unusually high-scoring matches compared with their recent head-to-head history. Whether that attacking trend continued at the Stadium of Light was one of the key questions.
The Stadium of Light Could Be Crucial
Sunderland's early-season unbeaten run at home showed how significant the Stadium of Light can be. The atmosphere and intensity of the home support have helped Le Bris' team compete against established Premier League sides.
But their three defeats in the previous four home league fixtures offered Forest encouragement. For Sunderland, restoring their earlier home control would be particularly important. For Forest, surviving the opening pressure could allow their recent confidence to become increasingly influential as the match develops.
Who Had the Better Head-to-Head Record?
The recent historical record strongly favoured Sunderland.
Across the previous 10 competitive meetings:
Sunderland won seven.
Nottingham Forest won two.
One ended in a draw.
Sunderland scored 13 goals.
Forest scored six.
Sunderland won both of the two most recent meetings.
Sunderland had already beaten Forest at the City Ground during the 2025/26 season.
The wider history also favoured the Black Cats. Before the April 2026 fixture, Sunderland held more victories than Forest across the clubs' overall competitive head-to-head record. However, current form told a very different story. Forest arrived playing their best football of the season.
Sunderland vs Nottingham Forest: Who Had the Advantage?
Heading into April 24, 2026, there was a strong argument that this fixture was more balanced than the historical head-to-head record suggested.
Sunderland had:
home advantage;
seven wins from the previous 10 meetings;
beaten Forest earlier in the season;
10 more Premier League points;
remained in contention for a possible European finish.
Forest, however, had:
gone seven matches unbeaten across all competitions;
moved five points clear of the relegation zone;
just beaten Burnley 4-1;
reached the Europa League semi-finals;
Morgan Gibbs-White in outstanding scoring form.
That makes it difficult to describe either team as an overwhelming favourite. Sunderland's home record and head-to-head advantage offered reasons for confidence, but Forest entered with considerably stronger momentum.
For Sunderland, victory would keep their unexpected European ambitions alive and provide a response to the painful defeat at Aston Villa. For Forest, three points would represent another major step towards Premier League survival before attention turned to their Europa League semi-final.
Sunderland vs Nottingham Forest: What the Last 10 Meetings Tell Us
The Sunderland vs Nottingham Forest head-to-head record before April 24, 2026 tells the story of a fixture Sunderland had largely controlled.
Across the previous 10 competitive meetings:
Sunderland won seven.
Nottingham Forest won two.
One match ended in a draw.
Sunderland scored 13 goals.
Forest scored six.
The teams combined for only 19 goals.
Sunderland won the previous two meetings.
Forest's most recent victory at the Stadium of Light came in 2017.
Sunderland won the reverse Premier League fixture 1-0.
The historical evidence therefore pointed towards Sunderland. Recent momentum pointed towards Forest. That contrast made the April 2026 meeting particularly intriguing.
Sunderland were attempting to finish an impressive return to the Premier League by pushing towards the European places, while Forest were combining a late-season survival revival with one of the club's deepest European runs in decades.
With both teams still having meaningful objectives to chase, the Stadium of Light fixture had the potential to become much more significant than their league positions alone suggested.