West Ham vs Nottm Forest: Can Forest continue their form today?

The last time Nottingham Forest had not lost any match for six rounds. Only five minutes into the game, Ola Aina scores a goal from outside the box to give Steve Cooper’s team the lead. Orel Mangala adds another goal to the scoreboard with only five minutes on the clock after half-time. This being their first win in the league since the start of September takes them seven points above the danger zone.

Nevertheless, they have to step up their away game performances and win at least once if they are to secure back-to-back victories. In the 2022-23 season, they have lost 17 away games, failed to score in 13 of these games, and have not scored in their last three away games.

West ham has emerged victorious against Olympiakos in the Europa league thus topping group a, and they hope to continue with this formidable performance in the Premier League. The last three times that West Ham played in the top flight against Aston Villa, Everton, and Brentford, they have conceded a total of eight goals.

David Moyes’ team started very strong with 3 wins within the first 4 matches but can only boast of one win in the last 7 matches. This has consequently caused them to move from the third position to the 13th rank in the league standing. However, West Ham may count on the fact that they have beaten Nottingham Forest in four out of their last five matches in the Premier League played at home and lost once during the month of January 1997.

Let’s take a look at today’s match highlights:

First-half begins!!

• In the 1^st minute, Forest has kicked off this Premier League match, and the game is now underway.
• In the 3^rd minute, it's a goal! In fact, West Ham had a great beginning as it took a lead three minutes after the match begun. Dominguez tried to kick it in the direction of the right, but the pass bounced off a colleague and landed directly in the path of Paqueta. The ball was outside the box and Paqueta shot it into the bottom corner of the net. West Ham is up 1-0!
• In the 12^th minute, A fantastic save by Areola! Though a little heavy, Gibbs-White’s cross from the right was well handled by Elanga on the other side and then it was sent to Toffolo. Toffolo provided a looped cross directly on Awoniyi’s head, with his header travelling towards the goal. Nonetheless, Areola produced a brilliant save so as to keep the ball at bay.
• In the 18^th minute, West Ham was clearly superior in the first ten minutes of the game but Nottinghams Forest has become settled in the game and now possesses the ball well enough. Awoniyi tried to make a fast pass through to Elanga, where the opponent took it away. Forest is getting into their groove and start playing to win.
• In the 22^nd minute, heading the ball forward from the left, Elanga gets the better of Coufal on the right. Nonetheless, Coufal gives a foul, and he earns the first yellow card for this match-up.
• In the 26^th minute, the left wing seems to be favored as points of attack by Nottingham Forest. Elanga went around Coufal, beating him and quickly moved to the other side. Unfortunately, he had time to choose the middle option, but his cross went straight into the hands of Hammers’ goalkeeper, Areola.
• In the 29^th minute, West Ham’s control in the game’s midfield, in a large part, is being contributed by Ward-Prowse. On the left corner, he attempted to send the ball towards Bowen, but Vlachodimos saw it coming and moved out of the goal line to catch the ball for Nottingham Forest.
• In the 38^th minute, Forest retaliates with another attack led by Gibbs-West who flicks an inaccurate pass that ends up back in West Ham’s possession. Bowen gets the ball from Kudus but he is unable to cross due to his blocked attempt. West Ham have the ball again and pass it to Alvarez who sends a shot from outside the box, but misses the net.
• In the 44^th minute, Forest has scored! They’re now level. Sangare wins the ball in midfield and slides a pass down the right to Gibbs-White. He beats Emerson and puts a shot across the goal, which Areola pushes aside. Though, Awoniyi is at the right place at the same time and puts the ball home from a close position. The score is now 1-1!
• In the 45+2 minute, West Ham probably will be disappointed with the late goal they have got scored against them. They had controlled the match; they were creating passing lanes outside the box. Yet, they could not cash in on that initial goal and they held the advantage, and the late equalizer goal of forest will certainly be a disappointing moment for them.

Second-half begins!!!

• In the 46^th minute, West Ham kicks off the second half to resume play.
• In the 48^th minute, a great opportunity for Forest! Vlachodimos longball is sent across the pitch, and Awoniyi is given time to control the ball within West Ham’s halfline. He links up with Elanga and dives into the box only to shoot over. He should have led forest in that chance.
• In the 53^rd minute, Coufal wins a corner from the right and Ward-Prowse stands ready to take it. Murillo clears Emmer’s out swinging corner while Emmer’s next cross back into the box does not do well but misses out.
• In the 54^th minute, Niakhate receives a yellow card after obstructing Emerson.
• In the 60^th minute, Kudus is shown a yellow card for a lunging tackle on Toffolo.
• In the 63^rd minute, it’s a goal for Forest. It’s a flip in a turn for the game! Aina races down the right and weighs up his options in the centre. He slams a low cross right in the box and Elanga arrives to meet it. Without marks, he turns on the corner, sending a low shot into the goal with Forest now leading two to one. What a turnaround!
• In the 64^th minute, Elanga removes his shirt in celebration and is subsequently shown a yellow card by the referee.
• In the 65^th minute, West Ham responds immediately! It's now 2-2! It is a fantastic inswinging corner delivered by Ward-Prowse. Bowen leaps and heads the ball across the goal and into the top corner. Forest has taken the lead just moments later.
• In the 69^th minute, West Ham almost score their second goal! Aina passes Alvarez’s direct pass straight to Soucek who fires a first time effort against the crossbar. The last few minutes have swung dramatically in West Ham’s favour, and Cooper and Forest will not believe how quickly it happened.
• In the 76^th minute, Forest makes three changes. Murillo sustained two injuries and cannot continue. Boly comes on to replace him at center-back.
• In the middle of the attack, Cooper simply exchanges places with the front man. Forest has scored its first goal through Awoniyi, and he is now being substituted after contributing well at the front. He is back from injury, and wood takes his place.
• In the 82^nd minute, Ward-Prowse remains very active. This time, he hits a deep free-kick to the center of the box, where Soucek volleys into the middle. Bowen who is onside is stretched out and on it Vlachodimos claims it.
• In the 85^th minute, Vlachodimos saves a shot again for Forest. A free-kick from Ward-Prowse on the left goes on a fine cross into the box and Soucek outruns his marker towards goal. Vlachodimos, however, goes beyond the mark to keep it out for West Ham.
• In the 88^th minute, Soucek scores for West Ham puts them 3-2 ahead. Forest has failed to shield Ward-Prowse’s crosses for a majority of the game, thus, Soucek scores with his head in the bottom corner from Ward-Prowse’s corner kick.
• In the 90^th minute, Forest are making an attacking change, bringing on Origi for Sangare as they seek a goal to equalize.
• In the 90+5 minute, West Ham is bolstering their defense by bringing on Ogbonna for Kudus before a Forest free-kick. They are looking to secure their lead and protect their defense.
• In the 90+6 minute, Gibbs-White takes a free-kick from the right flank, looking for options in the middle. However, his delivery is too high, and Areola easily collects it.
• In the 90+9 minute, West Ham make a late substitution, bringing on veteran Cresswell to help secure their lead. Paqueta is the player who comes off.

The match against Nottingham Forest was thrilling for West Ham as they came back to win 3-2 after being behind. In a flash, Paqueta scored at the start of the game only for Awoniyi to equalize scoring in rebounds. In just about two minutes, two more goals were scored, thus, making it an intense competition.