During a weekend that celebrates Crystal Palace’s historic underdog triumph, Nottingham Forest took a step towards stability by clinching a 2-1 win against West Ham, reigniting their hopes for a Champions League spot.
It wasn’t entirely straightforward at the London Stadium, especially with Jarrod Bowen’s late strike sparking a frantic finish. Yet Forest has managed to keep their momentum going. They’re just a few points behind fifth-place Aston Villa now, having secured only their second win in eight matches. Their next challenge? A formidable clash against Chelsea at City Ground next weekend.
In terms of personnel, Nottingham’s Taiwo Awoniyi has been recovering from abdominal surgery, showing their resilience despite distractions from media reports concerning management changes. Meanwhile, Morgan Gibbs-White and Nikola Milenkovic put them ahead 2-0, although West Ham made them sweat through 17 minutes of extra time after Bowen’s goal reignited the match. Victory was finally secured thanks to a remarkable save from Mads Sels against Niklas Füllkrug.
Hints of tension emerged early on. Forest thrives on solid defense and swift counterattacks, but they struggled initially, with West Ham exploiting gaps on the flanks. Vladimir Coufal’s involvement marked a dangerous start for West Ham as Forest fought to regain composure.
Murillo’s return from injury bolstered Nottingham’s defense, yet they struggled against Coufal’s relentless advances. He nearly set up a goal, but Sels managed to deflect the effort. Meanwhile, West Ham didn’t appear entirely convincing either, visibly shaken by pressure. There were moments when Gibbs-White could have scored from close range, only for Alphonse Areola to save impressively. His skills are unquestioned, but his ball control and decision-making sometimes faltered, particularly during a misplayed attempt in the 11th minute. Gibbs-White capitalized, slipping the ball into an empty net.
As Gibbs-White celebrated, the atmosphere shifted dramatically for West Ham. Having not lost at home after conceding first earlier in the season, they were visibly rattled under Graham Potter’s management.
Forest maintained their grip on the game and soon pressed their advantage further, despite VAR deliberating for what felt like an eternity over Gibbs-White’s positioning during the buildup to the goal. Eventually, sanity prevailed, and the goal stood. Nevertheless, West Ham responded with vigor, bringing on Lucas Paquetá, Füllkrug, and Carlos Soler, who boosted their chances. Yet Nuno’s defense faltered, requiring Sels to intervene with a crucial save against Soler. Moments later, Morato, newly introduced to shore up defense, assisted Bowen’s volley to keep West Ham’s hopes alive.
With 11 minutes added time showing, Nottingham Forest definitely made their fans anxious. West Ham piled on the pressure, desperately chasing an equalizer, but Sels was there again, denying Füllkrug’s header. Now, attention turns to Chelsea.
