Nottingham Forest’s 7-0 win against Brighton showed the real highs and lows of supporting the Reds — a statement reaction to defeat at Bournemouth and one that cements them in the battle for the Champions League. George Edwards was at the match
From their worst display of the season to their best in the space of a week, the tumultuous highs and lows of supporting Nottingham Forest were perfectly illustrated in the space of seven days.
Only Nottingham Forest could lose 5-0 one week and win 7-0 the next
Following that dismal display on the south coast, Forest not only reacted but sent out a statement to their Premier League rivals that they mean business this season, and that no defeat or bad performance will define them or their season.
A seven-star home display, the first time in the Premier League era the Reds have netted seven goals without reply. A Chris Wood hattrick almost went under the radar, with the amount of positivity and kudos directed towards the entire team; you don’t have days like this without collective brilliance.
Nuno Espírito Santo deserves enormous credit for his reaction, not unravelling Forest’s hard work this season with reactionary changes but targeting two weaknesses from the game and adjusting to perfection.
The introduction of Morato for his first home PL start and the change to a back three signified Forest’s shift out wide, with all seven of the Reds glorious goals being created or netted from wide areas.
There was distinct concern that Callum Hudson-Odoi’s injury could derail Forest’s spectacular season, emphasised by his replacement Jota’s performance against Bournemouth, but with Ola Aina and Neco Williams’ constant attacking threat, that issue has been somewhat quashed.
Danilo’s return to Forest’s starting XI brought back much-needed positivity, energy and forward-thinking to Forest’s midfield, with the Brazilian’s ever-positive mentality at the heart of his team’s momentous attacking display.
Despite August’s horror-injury no doubt in his mind, he never shirked a challenge and constantly wanted to be involved, exactly the reason why he has become the fan favourite that he is. It was a move through him that got the ball rolling, a perfectly timed first-time pass out wide for Morgan Gibbs-White, thriving in his position to the right of the midfield three, culminating in Forest’s opener 12 minutes in.
Forest’s width allowed them to find space all over the field with ease, playing out of tight situations with confidence and ease, controlling the game despite their 37% share of possession.
They have refreshingly shown time and again that possession means nothing to them, that their impact can be felt off the ball, and that they emphatically take their chances to break forward and swarm goalwards.
Yet despite their counterattacking foundations, there were times when they slowed it down, confident in their ability to create chances 11v11 from open play.
Three up at the break courtesy of two headers, both assisted by Anthony Elanga. His delivery, along with that of Elliot Anderson, has added a completely new facet to Forest’s attack this season, coupled with Forest normally being first to the ball in both boxes, two refreshing and revitalising alterations from last season.
Elanga ended with three assists to his name, with the last one perhaps the best, driving with pace and control down the right and delivering a killer ball, tapped in by Chris Wood.
That’s now Elanga’s ninth goal involvement in his last 10 games since his impact off the bench against Aston Villa, following a run of one in 10, his peak in form coming simultaneously with Forest’s emphatic winning streak.
While Elanga’s form may have had its fluctuations, Chris Wood’s has been as reliable as they come, and Elanga wouldn’t have those numbers without Forest’s talisman in the middle to take the glory. In fact, of those nine involvements, four have been assists for Wood, a real indication of the chemistry between Forest’s fluid forward line recently.
A 16th goal of the season, with his first two a showing of his positional prowess, doing particularly well to keep pace with Elanga and stay onside for his second. An assured penalty to round off a quite brilliant hattrick, his second penalty goal against the Seagulls this season, now joint third in the race for the golden boot. Spectacular.
Goals six and seven illustrated how easy it looked for Forest, pouncing on concentration lapses and punishing, proving that if you have a slight off day in the Premier League, as Brighton did, you can quite easily get taken to the cleaners.
Neco Williams and Jota Silva became Forest’s 12th and 13th goal scorers in the league this campaign, two players whose desire and commitment are never in question, both popular scorers in the City Ground.
And while the stadium was eagerly crying for eight, the score that brings the most confidence is the nil.
After conceding seven goals in their last three halves of football, Forest needed reassurance that their defensive dominance this season was on merit, that the recent displays were the fluke and not what came before them.
A back three set up slightly differently to the norm, with Nikola Milenkovic deployed in the middle flanked by Murillo and Morato, another Nuno masterstroke.
The cynical Serbian stalwart dictated his Brazilian partners with such assurance, allowing them both to be their aggressive selves, mopping up and filling in the gaps where necessary. And any fit and firing team has an in-form goalkeeper — Matz Sels making two special stops among six saves throughout the 90 minutes, his 10th clean sheet of the season.
It’s yet another reactionary win this season. Forest followed up defeat against Fulham with a draw and three wins. They followed up three losses in four with that spectacular festive winning streak. Now a presiding and unquestionable win, sending shockwaves down Brighton’s spine.
Victory sees Forest cement their position in third place, putting their goal difference right after last week and cooling the lingering nerves after the last two matches. Three points were a necessity with two tough away games before Arsenal and Manchester City come to town in Forest’s next four; the manner in which they were achieved a very welcome and warm bonus.
With every win, every goal, every clean sheet, Forest are taking a step closer to their European dream. They can be doubted from the outside, written off by the majority, but the tightness, togetherness and resilience of this spectacular side will push their pledge all the way.
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