Forest boost top-five hopes with win at West Ham

Nottingham Forest survived a nervy 16-minute spell of injury time to keep alive their hopes of Champions League football with victory over West Ham at London Stadium.

They led on 11 minutes thanks to a mistake by West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola, when his attempted pass to Guido Rodriguez on the edge of the box was intercepted by Morgan Gibbs-White who fired into the empty goal.

And Forest doubled their lead in the second half when Nicola Milenkovic got the final touch on Anthony Elanga’s dangerous free-kick. After a video assistant referee (VAR) check taking around six minutes, the goal was finally given.

But Jarrod Bowen capitalised on a weak headed clearance from Morato to lash home a superb volley with four minutes of normal time left to set up a fingernail-shredding finale.

After surviving a lengthy added time – including a Niclas Fullkrug header beaten away by Matz Sels and a multi-player scrap with several yellow cards – Nuno Espirito Santo’s Forest side stay seventh.

But they are one point behind Newcastle, Chelsea and Aston Villa in the top five and only behind sixth-placed Manchester City on goal difference.

Forest host Chelsea on the final day, and a win plus results in their favour would secure Champions League football.

The match started with a bang, with both keepers forced into early stops. Forest keeper Sels brilliantly tipped over Tomas Soucek’s header inside two minutes, while Areola saved well from Gibbs-White and Chris Wood.

But the Frenchman’s dreadful decision to try and play out under pressure was heavily punished.

Forest doubled their lead when Elanga’s set piece flicked off Milenkovic’s back and went in off the far post.

After a lengthy and much-booed VAR check – hampered by the semi-automatic offside technology being unavailable, and a problem with the communication between VAR and the on-pitch officials – Forest had their second goal and the win which ensures their Champions League dream remains a possibility.

West Ham ended the match on top and deserved their goal when Bowen lashed home, but stay 15th following their 17th league defeat of the campaign.

As well as being a crucial game in their top-five bid, this was also an emotional match for Forest as their first since striker Taiwo Awoniyi required emergency surgery after colliding with a post during their draw with Leicester last week.

Forest warmed up in T-shirts bearing Awoniyi’s name and number on the back, plus the message “we are all with you Taiwo on the front”.

After scoring, Gibbs-White held up a Forest shirt with Awoniyi and number nine printed on the back, giving it a kiss in tribute. The players also held it aloft at full-time and posed with it in front of the away fans.

There was an eerie moment midway through the first half when Bowen collided with the post during an attack. The England forward suffered a cut to the head, but was able to continue.

There were also murmurings of discontent when a Chris Wood double chance – the first blocked, the second saved – was eventually flagged offside very late by assistant Akil Howson. The decision to delay offside calls has been cited as a factor in Awoniyi’s injury.

However, Forest put concerns aside to record a first league double over West Ham in 41 years – and more pertinently, keep up the pressure on the top five.

There were a significant number of empty white seats around the London Stadium for this game. For most West Ham fans, this season cannot end soon enough.

They started and ended this game well, but manager Graham Potter faces a tough ask to rebuild this West Ham side and add threat – exemplified by nine defensive-minded players starting this game.

Up front, Bowen and Mohammed Kudus – wide players by trade – started as a central duo with traditional number nines Fullkrug and Nathan Ferguson on the bench.

Bowen became the first West Ham player to score in four successive home games since Jesse Lingard in 2021, and West Ham offered more threat following a quadruple second-half change – but Forest held on.

Long-serving players Aaron Cresswell and Coufal made their final home starts. Coufal marked his farewell with a booking for arguing with the assistant referee.

West Ham can no longer finish above 14th and could end as low as 17th. Improvement required.