Nottingham Forest ended their winless run in the league with a 2-0 win over West Ham United at the City Ground, thanks to goals from Taiwo Awoniyi and Callum Hudson-Odoi. The hosts scored in each half and took advantage of West Ham’s numerical disadvantage, as Kalvin Phillips was sent off in the second half. The result moved Forest five points clear of the relegation zone and extended West Ham’s winless streak to six matches in the Premier League tie.
Nottingham Forest, who had not won a league match since December, were looking to bounce back from a 3-2 defeat at Newcastle United in midweek. They were also hoping to improve their home record, which was the worst in the division, with only two wins in 12 matches. West Ham, who had started the season strongly, were aiming to end their slump, which had seen them lose their last three matches without scoring a goal. They were also looking to close the gap on the top four, which had widened to seven points.
Awoniyi breaks the deadlock
Nottingham Forest took the lead in the fifth minute of added time in the first half, when Awoniyi scored his first goal for the club since joining on loan from Liverpool in January. The 24-year-old, who had scored 11 goals in 21 appearances for Union Berlin in the Bundesliga last season, showed his quality and instinct as he latched on to a low pass from Nicolas Dominguez and turned away from Nayef Aguerd before firing a low shot past Alphonse Areola.
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The goal was a reward for Nottingham Forest’s dominance in the first half, as they controlled the possession and tempo of the game, and created several opportunities to score. Anthony Elanga and Morgan Gibbs-White tested Areola with shots from inside the box, while Dominguez’s blocked shot fell kindly for Awoniyi. Forest’s tactics were clear: they pressed West Ham high up the pitch, denied them time and space on the ball, and exploited the spaces behind their full-backs with their pace and width.
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West Ham, on the other hand, looked sluggish and disjointed, as they failed to cope with Forest’s intensity and movement. They barely threatened Jose Sa’s goal, apart from a couple of long-range attempts from Michail Antonio and Felipe Anderson. West Ham’s tactics were unclear: they seemed to be playing a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Antonio as the lone striker and Anderson, Phillips, and Jarrod Bowen behind him, but they lacked cohesion and creativity and were often outnumbered and outplayed in midfield.
Phillips sees red
West Ham’s hopes of getting back into the match were dashed in the 71st minute when Phillips was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Gibbs-White. The 26-year-old, who had joined West Ham from Leeds United in the summer, had a nightmare game, as he committed two needless and reckless fouls that earned him his marching orders. He was first booked in the 38th minute when he lunged in on Danilo and caught him on the ankle. He was then given his second yellow card when he tripped Gibbs-White from behind and prevented a counter-attack.
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The red card was a huge blow for West Ham, who were already trailing and struggling to create chances. They had to reshuffle their formation and personnel, as David Moyes brought on Ben Johnson and Tomas Soucek for Anderson and Bowen, and switched to a 4-4-1 system, with Antonio as the sole striker. However, they were unable to stem the tide of Nottingham Forest’s attacks and conceded more chances to the hosts. Elanga missed a glorious opportunity to double Nottingham Forest’s lead, when he skied over the bar from close range, while Awoniyi and Dominguez also went close.
Phillips and Danilo were the two holding midfielders for West Ham, but they had contrasting impacts and performances. Phillips, who had been one of West Ham’s best players this season, with four goals and five assists in 21 appearances, had a game to forget, as he was out of sorts and out of control, and let his team down with his indiscipline. Danilo, who had made only four appearances for Forest since joining on loan from Juventus in January, had a game to remember, as he was composed and influential, and set up both goals for Forest.
Hudson-Odoi seals the win for Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest sealed the win in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Hudson-Odoi scored his third goal in as many matches. The 21-year-old, who had joined Forest on loan from Chelsea in January, showed his skill and speed as he picked up the ball near the halfway line and sprinted towards the West Ham box, before firing a low shot into the bottom-left corner.
The goal was a testament to Nottingham Forest’s resilience and efficiency, as they defended well and countered effectively. They absorbed West Ham’s pressure and restricted them to few clear-cut chances, while they exploited West Ham’s high line and lack of pace at the back with their speed and movement. They also showed more desire and determination, as they won more duels and tackles than West Ham.
Hudson-Odoi and Elanga were the main threats to Nottingham Forest, as they used their skill and speed to trouble the West Ham defense. Hudson-Odoi, who had scored in the FA Cup win over Reading and the league draw with Brentford, was lively and inventive, as he linked up well with Awoniyi and Dominguez. Elanga, who had scored four goals in his last six matches for Forest, was powerful and direct, as he ran at the West Ham backline and tested Areola with a couple of shots.