Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest prediction 09.01.2026 | English FA Cup

Wrexham head into this FA Cup tie in excellent recent form. In their last six matches across competitions - including the EFL Championship - they have secured four wins, one draw and one loss, averaging 2.3 goals per game and featuring in an impressive number of Over 2.5 goal matches (five out of six). Their recent victories include a historic 2-0 win at Blackburn Rovers, ending a decades-old winless streak on New Year’s Day, a second consecutive Championship away win, this time against Derby County., and an entertaining 5-3 triumph over Sheffield United at home. 

These results underline both their attacking potential and defensive unpredictability; most importantly, Phil Parkinson’s men have hit excellent form at the ideal time, recording four consecutive wins heading into the FA Cup clash with the Premier League side.

Their home scoring consistency - exceeding Over 1.5 goals in a high proportion of fixtures - suggests they can both score and contribute to a lively cup tie. Key contributors include Sam Smith and Ollie Rathbone, both of whom have found the net in recent fixtures, adding depth to Wrexham’s attacking options. Injury and squad availability appear manageable, with no widely reported new major absences as of this preview.

Nottingham Forest’s Premier League campaign has been challenging in recent weeks. In their last six matches across competitions, Forest have recorded two wins and four losses, scoring an average of 1.2 goal per game and conceding heavily in some outings - for example, they conceded three in a 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa. However, their most recent league result was finally a positive one: Sean Dyche’s men ended a run of four consecutive Premier League defeats with a narrow 2-1 win over West Ham on Tuesday.

Squad rotation is another factor; reported absentees include players such as Chris Wood, Dan Ndoye, Ola Aina and Ryan Yates due to injury issues, potentially weakening depth on both flanks and in midfield. This could limit Forest’s tactical flexibility in the FA Cup tie and hamper their ability to press for extended periods against Wrexham.