Friday nights at Portman Road feel different. The floodlights are on, the stands sit tight to the pitch, and there is no other Premier League game to split the attention. That is the stage for Ipswich vs Nottingham Forest on Friday 23 October, an 8pm UK kick-off picked for live TV by Sky Sports. For fans in India it means a late night: the match starts at 12:30 AM IST on Saturday 24 October.
Both clubs arrive with something to prove. Gary O’Neil’s Ipswich have mixed dramatic late wins with a couple of heavy defeats, while Oliver Glasner’s Forest are still waiting for their season to click into gear. This preview covers the timing, recent form, the head-to-head story, the players most likely to decide it, and what to look for when the lineups are announced.
Ipswich vs Forest Time in India and Match Details
The game kicks off at 8pm UK time on Friday, which is 12:30 AM IST on Saturday 24 October. The UK is still on summer time that weekend (clocks go back on Sunday 25 October), so the usual four-and-a-half-hour gap applies.
| Detail | Information |
| Competition | Premier League 2026-27 |
| Venue | Portman Road, Ipswich (capacity about 30,000) |
| UK kick-off | Friday 23 October, 8:00 PM BST |
| India kick-off | Saturday 24 October, 12:30 AM IST |
| UAE kick-off | Friday 23 October, 11:00 PM GST |
In India, Premier League games are usually carried by Star Sports on TV and JioHotstar for streaming. Listings for individual games can change, so check the schedule on the day.
One thing worth remembering: an IST date that reads “Saturday” is still Friday night in England. If you set a reminder, set it for late Friday evening so you are ready for the team news at around 11:30 PM IST.
Ipswich Town: Late Goals and Big Swings
Ipswich went into the October international break with 9 points and sat 10th in the table. That is a strong return for a promoted side, and it has come in a very particular way: almost every win has been settled late.
| Result | Score | What stood out |
| Ipswich vs Fulham (H) | W 2-1 | Ouattara levelled, then Dara O’Shea won it in stoppage time |
| Everton vs Ipswich (A) | L 1-0 | A tight away defeat |
| Crystal Palace vs Ipswich (A) | W 2-3 | A late winner from Flemming in south London |
| Ipswich vs Liverpool (H) | L 0-2 | Alexander Isak scored both |
| Man Utd vs Ipswich (A) | L 5-2 | The heaviest defeat so far |
| Ipswich vs Sunderland (H) | W 2-1 | Jack Clarke struck late |
The pattern is clear. Gary O’Neil’s team keeps going until the final whistle, and Portman Road has produced two wins from three league games. The defensive record is the worry. Conceding five at Old Trafford showed what happens when Ipswich lose their shape against quick, direct attacks.
The Fulham win also said a lot about the dressing room. Captain O’Shea popping up in the box in added time is not something you plan for, but it shows how much this group commits forward when a game is level.
Note: Ipswich travel to Manchester City on 17 October before this game, so check that result and any fresh injuries before kick-off.
Nottingham Forest: Searching for Rhythm Under Glasner
Forest have 5 points and sit 14th. The numbers look worse than the performances in places, but the results have not followed. The split is striking. Forest have taken points at Anfield and Villa Park but have not won at home. That makes this away trip less daunting than it might look on paper.
Oliver Glasner was upbeat after the Palace defeat, calling it his side’s “best performance in the entire season” despite the scoreline. Read that as a manager who sees the shape coming together, even if the finishing is not there yet.
Forest host Arsenal on 18 October before travelling to Suffolk, so their form line may look different by Friday.
Head-to-Head: Forest Won Both Meetings in 2024-25
| Result | Score | What stood out |
| Crystal Palace vs Forest (A) | L 3-1 | Dan Ndoye scored after three minutes, then Palace took over |
| Forest vs Coventry (H) | L 0-1 | A home defeat to a promoted side |
| Aston Villa vs Forest (A) | W 1-2 | Igor Jesus won it in the 88th minute |
| Forest vs Tottenham (H) | D 0-0 | Solid without the ball, short of ideas with it |
| Liverpool vs Forest (A) | D 2-2 | A strong point at Anfield |
| Forest vs Leeds (H) | L 0-1 | A flat start at the City Ground |
The last time these two shared a Premier League season, Forest took all six points.
| Date | Fixture | Score | Goals |
| 15 March 2025 | Ipswich vs Nottingham Forest | 2-4 | Forest: Milenković, Elanga (2), Jota Silva. Ipswich: Cajuste, Hirst |
| 30 November 2024 | Nottingham Forest vs Ipswich | 1-0 | Forest: Chris Wood (penalty) |
The Portman Road game is the one to remember. Forest were ruthless on the break that day, and Anthony Elanga’s pace caused problems all game. Ipswich showed fight with two goals of their own, but they could not live with Forest’s speed in transition.
Both squads have changed a lot since then. Elanga has moved on, Glasner has replaced the coaching setup that won those games, and Ipswich have come back up with a different manager and a new spine. History gives Forest a small psychological edge, nothing more.
Key Players and Ipswich vs Nottingham Forest Lineups
Confirmed lineups are published about an hour before kick-off, which is around 11:30 PM IST on Friday night. Until then, treat any “predicted XI” as a guess, especially with both clubs playing the weekend before.
Ipswich players to watch
- Dara O’Shea: The captain organises the back line and has already scored a stoppage-time winner this season. He will be central to stopping Forest’s runners.
- Jack Clarke: Direct, quick and willing to shoot. His late goal against Sunderland set the tone for the season.
- Julio Enciso and Dango Ouattara: The creative and attacking threat out wide and between the lines. Ouattara’s equaliser against Fulham showed his eye for goal.
- In goal: Alex Palmer and Kjell Scherpen are the two options. Who starts is worth checking when the team sheet drops.
Forest players to watch
- Morgan Gibbs-White: Still the heartbeat of Forest’s attack. Most of their best moves run through him.
- Igor Jesus: Scored the late winner at Villa Park and gives Forest a focal point in the box.
- Dan Ndoye: Scored inside three minutes at Selhurst Park and brings real pace on the flank.
- Muñoz and Delap: Two summer additions who give Glasner new options at wing-back and up front.
What to check when the lineups land
- Does O’Neil keep the same back line that beat Fulham or freshen it up after the Man City trip?
- Does Glasner start a central striker, or play with more movement and no fixed number nine?
- Who starts in goal for Ipswich?
What to Expect on Friday Night
This has the feel of a close, nervy game. Ipswich will want to start fast in front of their own crowd, press high and make Forest uncomfortable on the ball. Forest are more likely to sit in a compact block and look for space behind Ipswich’s full-backs.
Three areas could decide it:
- The first 20 minutes – Ipswich feed off energy at home. An early goal for either side changes the whole game.
- Transitions – Forest’s best football this season has come on the break. If Ipswich commit too many bodies forward, Ndoye and Gibbs-White will have room to run.
- The last 15 minutes – Ipswich have scored late winners against Sunderland, Palace and Fulham. Forest let an early lead slip at Palace last time out. Do not switch off before the final whistle.
Our view: Ipswich’s home form and late-game spirit make them slight favourites, but Forest’s away record is better than their league position suggests. A draw would not surprise anyone. This is opinion, not a tip, and team news after the weekend fixtures may change the picture.
Final Thoughts
Ipswich vs Nottingham Forest brings together two clubs moving in slightly different directions. Ipswich have made Portman Road a source of points and keep finding goals when games look settled. Forest have played well in spells, especially away from home, but need results to match the performances.
Forest won both meetings in 2024-25, yet the squads and managers have changed enough to make that history a footnote. For Indian fans, the key detail is the 12:30 AM IST start on Saturday 24 October, with lineups due around 11:30 PM.
Kheloexch will keep tracking the Premier League week by week, so check back for the result and the talking points once the floodlights go off.
FAQs
What time is Ipswich vs Nottingham Forest in India?
The match kicks off at 12:30 AM IST on Saturday 24 October 2026. That is 8pm on Friday 23 October in the UK and 11pm in the UAE. If you are watching live from India, plan for a late Friday night.
Where is Ipswich vs Nottingham Forest being played?
The game is at Portman Road, Ipswich Town’s home ground since 1884. It holds roughly 30,000 fans, and its stands sit close to the pitch, which helps create a loud atmosphere under the lights on a Friday night.
When will the Ipswich vs Nottingham Forest lineups be announced?
Premier League clubs usually confirm their starting XIs about an hour before kick-off. For this game, expect both lineups around 7pm UK time, roughly 11:30 PM IST. Any predicted lineup published before then is an educated guess.
Who won the last Ipswich vs Nottingham Forest match?
Forest won 4-2 at Portman Road on 15 March 2025. Anthony Elanga scored twice, with Nikola Milenković and Jota Silva also on target. Jens Cajuste and George Hirst replied for Ipswich. Forest had also won the earlier meeting 1-0.
Where can I watch Ipswich vs Forest in India?
Premier League matches in India are generally shown on Star Sports, with streaming on JioHotstar. Broadcast picks can change from week to week, so confirm the listing on the day before settling in for the late kick-off.
