Nottingham Forest kept alive their dreams of Champions League football next season after goals in each half from Morgan Gibbs-White and Nikola Milenkovic saw them win 2-1 at West Ham United.
The victory means Nuno Espirito Santo’s side remain just a point behind fourth-placed Chelsea, who they host at the City Ground in what should be a nerve-shredding end to the Premier League season next Sunday.
Forest’s players had warmed up in white T-shirts bearing the red No 9 and the surname Awoniyi on the back in support of their missing striker, with the message “We’re all with you Taiwo” on the front.
Meanwhile, the West Ham faithful gave long-serving defender Aaron Cresswell a rousing pre-match sendoff in his final home game before leaving the club this summer, only for Alphonse Areola to burst the early feel-good factor in the stadium by gifting Forest their 11th-minute opener.
There appeared little danger when Areola had the ball at his feet in his area, only for the Hammers No 1 to pass it straight to Gibbs-White, who gratefully accepted the present by firing into the empty net before celebrating by holding aloft Awoniyi’s shirt.
The visitors were boosted pre-match by the return from injury of influential centre-back Murillo, who then damaged his ankle on the stroke of half-time, but did return for the second half that saw Forest double their lead just past the hour mark.
Morgan Gibbs-White pays tribute to injured team-mate Taiwo Awoniyi after scoring Nottingham Forest’s opening goal at West Ham
Milenkovic got the final touch to Anthony Elanga’s curling free kick from the left touchline, with the goal eventually awarded after an 11-minute check by the Video Assistant Referee Darren England, who deemed Nicolas Dominguez offside, but not interfering with play.
However, if Forest thought that was that, they were mistaken as Jarrod Bowen’s sweetly-struck late volley produced a rousing finale, as West Ham’s fans urged their team on to give them a fitting end to their season at home.
Nikola Milenkovic glances Anthony Elanga’s free-kick into the net to double Nottingham Forest’s lead at West Ham
And they very nearly got it but for a brilliant reaction stop from Matz Sels in the 11th minute of injury time to keep out substitute Niclas Fullkrug’s powerful close-range header that extends the drama til next Sunday at the City Ground.
What the managers said…
West Ham boss Graham Potter:
“There are two teams on the pitch, credit to Nottingham Forest, they are strong and well organised. The first goal is disappointing from our perspective and we suffered a bit from that.
“We had some opportunities, scored a good goal and just fell short against a team who are in a really good place.”
Jarrod Bowen scores a spectacular goal for West Ham to halve their deficit against Nottingham Forest
Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo:
“Since the beginning of our preparations ‘T’ [Taiwo Awoniyi] was on our minds due to the seriousness of the situation, and the boys really wanted to do it for him.
“That was our final words, ‘let’s give it a push’. He is someone we admire, his smile is contagious and the boys did it for him. We are so proud.
“Huge [win]. I think since the beginning of the season we wanted to be in this fight, we achieved it, the last game at the City Ground will be huge for us and we are trying to make something magical.”
Analysis: Toothless West Ham play into Forest’s hands
Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones:
West Ham’s lack of cutting edge in attack is classic Graham Potter.
Throughout his time managing in the Premier League, his teams have been accused of being easy on the eye but easy to defend against, such has been the manager’s philosophy of control in midfield. That was on show during this latest underwhelming performance at the London Stadium.
Jarrod Bowen celebrates after pulling a goal back for West Ham against Nottingham Forest
The Hammers posted 16 shots towards the Forest goal but only amassed a total expected goals total of 0.9. That points to a huge problem with creating quality chances. The goal they got through Bowen was a moment of individual brilliance and was their only hope of breaking past a Forest defence that has been vulnerable over the last 12 games.
This was their best defensive performance for 10 matches according to the defensive metrics but you’d argue it was more down to West Ham’s toothless attacking play rather than Forest doing anything overly special in restricting the disappointing hosts.
Wonderous Williams so strong for Forest
Neco Williams starred for Forest at West Ham
Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones:
In terms of consistency, reliability and delivering high-quality defensive performances, you’d be hard pushed to find a better full-back than Neco Williams this season.
He’s been one of the rocks at the heart of this Forest backline that could still potentially take them to the Champions League next season. It’s now 23 straight Premier League games Williams has started with opposition wingers rarely getting any change out of the Welshman. His battle with Vladimir Coufal down the Forest left was engaging to watch with the Hammers wing-back keen to go out in full-throttle mood in his last home appearance for the club.
Williams made a bulky eight tackles in the match, the most of any player, winning seven of those and won 12 of his 16 duels. That’s the beauty of Williams, he turns 50-50 tackles into 75-25 ones in his favour. He’s one of many unsung heroes in that Forest team.
Story of the match in stats…
What’s coming up in the Premier League?
Sky Sports to show 215 live PL games from next season
Sky Sports to show 215 live Premier League games from next season
From next season, Sky Sports’ Premier League coverage will increase from 128 matches to at least 215 games exclusively live.
And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League games next season are on Sky Sports.
