Liam Duckstein
Nottingham Forest and Blackburn Rovers meet in a July pre-season friendly on 22 July 2026, with Oliver Glasner’s Premier League side entering as heavy favourites against Michael O’Neill’s Championship outfit. The most telling context here is the gap in class: Forest sit at 26th in the world club rankings while Blackburn are ranked 443rd, a difference that the bookmakers have priced sharply, giving the Reds a 69% win probability. Blackburn’s only pre-season action of note in this window ended goalless against Accrington, which tells its own story about their attacking sharpness heading into this fixture.
On the Forest side, keep an eye on their attacking output from recent months. Their season record of 12 wins from 31 matches may not look dominant on paper, but their last 30 days produced a perfect 100% win rate from one outing, a 2-0 win over Notts County. For Blackburn, striker-wise, the 3-1 win over Sheffield United earlier in the year showed they can produce when the system clicks, and that remains the benchmark O’Neill will want his side to reach here.
Hot stat: Blackburn’s last two competitive pre-season outings produced just one goal scored in 180 minutes of football, including a goalless draw against Accrington, underlining real concerns about their attacking output in this period.
| 🏆 Tournament: | International Club Friendly 2026, July Phase |
| 🗓️ Date: | 22.07.2026 |
| ⏰ Time: | 12:00 CEST |
Nottingham Forest vs Blackburn Prediction
The class difference between these two sides is significant, and we predict Nottingham Forest to win this match with a clean sheet. Forest’s recent form has been strong, winning their last recorded pre-season outing 2-0, and Glasner’s squad carries Premier League quality throughout. Blackburn have managed just one goal across their last two pre-season matches combined, and their squad depth at this level of opponent is a genuine concern.
The best value bet here is Nottingham Forest to win and both teams not to score. Blackburn’s lack of attacking output in pre-season, combined with Forest’s defensive solidity shown in the Notts County win, points firmly toward a controlled Forest victory with a clean sheet. Backing Forest on the Asian handicap at -1.5 is also worth considering given the gulf in quality.
Both teams tend to use pre-season friendlies to work through tactical structures rather than press at high intensity, which can reduce foul counts and yellow card totals. Forest, under Glasner, tend to be a possession-focused side that controls tempo, which should limit Blackburn’s transition opportunities. Blackburn, to be honest, will likely set up defensively and look to stay compact, meaning corners and set pieces could be Forest’s primary route to goal. We predict the corner count to lean toward Forest heavily, with over 8.5 corners in the match a reasonable market to consider.
| 🔥Hot Tip: | Nottingham Forest to win & BTTS No |
| ⚽Total Goals: | Under 3.5 |
| 💥Both Teams To Score: | No |
| 🎯Total Corners: | Over 7.5 |
Team Analysis
Nottingham Forest’s pre-season has been compact but productive. Their most recent outing, a 2-0 win over Notts County, was exactly the kind of controlled, professional performance Glasner would have wanted. Before that, Forest’s season included a draw with Bournemouth and a defeat to Manchester United, though the 1-1 against Newcastle showed resilience. The 0-4 loss to Aston Villa stands as the low point, but that result came in a different phase of the season. Across the last 15 results, Forest have recorded a majority of wins and draws, with their form trending positively heading into this fixture. The squad looks settled and motivated ahead of pre-season, and this fixture against lower-league opposition fits the profile of a confidence-building win.
Blackburn arrive at this fixture in a more uncertain state. Their 4-0 win over Longridge Town was an expected result against non-league opposition, but the 0-0 draw with Accrington Stanley before that was a flat performance that raised questions about their attacking options. Earlier in the year, a 3-1 win over Sheffield United showed what Blackburn can do at their best, but the 0-1 defeat to Leicester and a 1-1 draw with Coventry painted a more inconsistent picture. O’Neill’s side have struggled to string together consecutive wins, and their overall year win rate of 27% from 26 matches reflects a squad that is still finding consistency. Facing a Premier League side in pre-season will be a genuine test of their defensive organisation.
🚨Check out our dedicated Nottingham Forest vs Blackburn stats page for more info.
Pre-game Odds and Win Probability: Nottingham Forest the Favourite
- Moneyline Nottingham Forest 1.30 | Blackburn 7.00
- Draw 5.00
- Over/Under Over 2.5 N/A | Under 2.5 N/A
- BTTS (both teams to score) Yes N/A | No N/A
The 1.30 on Forest reflects just how wide the quality gap is between these two clubs. At those odds, the value is limited for a straight win, but backing Forest on a handicap or pairing the win with a clean sheet market gives better returns. The 7.00 on Blackburn is generous enough to tempt, but their pre-season attacking form gives no real reason to back them to cause an upset. The draw at 5.00 is the only price that offers any genuine interest, though given Forest’s control in recent outings, it remains an unlikely outcome.
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Blackburn. Source: Official Facebook. Edited photo
TipsGG Match Prediction
We predict Nottingham Forest to win this pre-season friendly without conceding. The class gap is too large to ignore, and Blackburn’s pre-season form, particularly their inability to score against Accrington, does not inspire confidence in their attacking threat. Forest’s 2-0 win over Notts County showed they are in good shape, and Glasner’s side should have enough quality to control this match from start to finish.
The most sensible approach is backing Forest to win and keep a clean sheet, perhaps combined with a corners market leaning toward the Premier League side. Blackburn will likely defend in numbers, but Forest’s technical quality and pressing game should generate enough chances to secure a comfortable result. Perhaps the final scoreline lands somewhere around 2-0 or 3-0, mirroring the Notts County result and reflecting a professional pre-season workout for the East Midlands club.
