Four talking points as Nottingham Forest came from behind to beat former manager Nuno Espírito Santo’s West Ham United 2-1, with goals from Nico Dominguez and Morgan Gibbs-White masking another lacklustre performance, moving the Reds seven points clear of the relegation zone. George Edwards was at the match
It was a crisp night in East London that out-of-form Nottingham Forest just had to get right.
Languishing with their third manager of the season and hanging perilously above the relegation zone, the prospect of losing to West Ham United for the second time this season brought around the reality that the Reds really are in this relegation battle and that things needed to change, starting last night.
It wasn’t pretty and it certainly wasn’t done without doubt, but after falling behind in the first half the Reds fought back, with second-half goals from Nico Dominguez and Morgan Gibbs-White sealing a 2-1 win that elevates them seven points clear of their opponents and to within touching distance of Premier League safety.
Dyche saved by the players
For the fifth consecutive game, Sean Dyche’s setup was uninspiring, his team lacklustre and rigid throughout, only looking threatening in an attacking sense from individual moments of brilliance.
Collectively, the team look unmotivated and are missing the willingness to go the extra yard that served them so well last season. They are last to every duel and are constantly reacting to their opposition’s movements, with no attacking strategy and little defensive confidence.
In possession, Morgan Gibbs-White was situated next to Igor Jesus for large periods, and Forest spent the entire first half trying to pass around West Ham, failing to move the ball through the middle with any impetus. These are all repeated themes that come from the motivation and tactics deployed at from top, Dyche falling short once again.
However, there comes a point where the players have to take accountability and make themselves known, Forest finally showing some backbone to muscle their way back into the game from behind and capture those vital three points.
Two individuals shone
Neco Williams is slowly becoming the standout contender for player of the season in a term where many of his teammates have faded, showing the odd glimmer of consistency but then going missing for weeks on end.
Even Elliot Anderson has dipped of late; perhaps his worst outing of the season was last night, struggling to recycle the ball and get involved in Forest’s (albeit minimal) attacking play.
But Williams never hid away, driving up and down the line all night, defending with grit and getting forward with spirit, epitomising everything you want in a footballer at this level.
In midfield his namesake Dominguez shone brighter, the only player using the ball consistently in the first half, pressing, fighting and threatening more than any of his teammates for the majority.
A deserved goal for the Argentine drew Forest level 10 minutes into the second period — after VAR had already saved them from going 2-0 down — looping home from a corner at the near post for his fourth goal in the Garibaldi and waking Forest from their rut.
From then, the visitors actually looked like a Premier League team for 20 minutes or so, using the ball with attacking intent and occupying the final third for much of that time.
But after failing to score a second while they were on top, it felt inevitable that if another goal was to come it would be for the hosts — Matz Sels called into action on his return to the XI to keep the scores level with a neat double save.
Sels’ heroics were rewarded by his captain, winning and slotting home a penalty in the final minute of the 90 following an otherwise timid and frustrating performance from the number 10. But Forest’s key moments are often defined by Morgan Gibbs-White, taking responsibility and owning his status as the centrepiece of his team as he confidently blasted home from the spot.
The win probably takes the heat off Dyche that was slowly beginning to grow, but Forest aren’t out of the woods just yet, and neither is their manager.
Reunited with Nuno
While losing to West Ham sealed his fate as Forest manager, the Reds look to have done the same in reverse to their ex-gaffer, with the Hammers having lost vital back-to-back games in their hunt for survival.
Nuno Espírito Santo painted a frustrated figure on the sidelines throughout, as he watched his side throw away a lead and more than likely his job in a defining second half.
Watching Nuno cradle several Forest players at full time, you were reminded of what could have been and just how good Forest had it.
In choosing global head of football Edu over Nuno, Evangelos Marinakis has ruptured this season, siding with the man who spearheaded the recruitment of this abject squad and the car crash decision to appoint Ange Postecoglou over the man who made every Reds fan’s dreams come true.
You could see the players still love him, several of the squad warmly greeting the Portuguese on the pitch at the end, with both Postecoglou and Dyche unable to unlock the true potential and freedom of the team like Nuno was able to do.
The grass isn’t always greener, and Nuno has learnt that lesson, taunted and endeared by the vocal visiting section of the London Stadium once Forest had snatched their winner. Nuno used to be one of us, but now he’s gone, Forest must aim to replicate the fearlessness and adaptability he brought in such a short period of time, providing themselves with a healthy foundation to build on by beating their former man.
Onto the right path?
Looking ahead, the performance doesn’t suggest much cause for optimism. Dyche continues to look flustered and unable to adapt, and his football remains largely uninspiring.
But the confidence gained from winning a match of this magnitude and claiming victory when you didn’t necessarily play well has the potential to be immense, as Forest gear up to play their third consecutive away game on Friday in Wrexham.
Victory there seems vital.
Not for the FA Cup; in fact, Forest might rather not play in the competition given how their memorable cup run last year derailed their Champions League quest, with Europe also to contend with this season.
But Forest have to beat Wrexham for morale. A long and largely unfruitful and confidence-sapping festive fixture list culminates in north Wales, with the chance to secure back-to-back wins and flip the whole mood of the football club on its head.
They can’t afford to look too far ahead, to Europe or to their upcoming games in the Premier League. They’ve done all they can to put a torrid and topsy turvy 2025 behind them and start 2026 progressing in the right manner, starting this Friday, buoyed on by that roar of celebration as Gibbs-White’s winning penalty struck the back of the net.
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