Forest keep alive Champions League dream with crucial West Ham win | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest kept alive their hopes of playing Champions League football next season after a 2-1 win at West Ham.

Morgan Gibbs-White opened the scoring for Forest at the London Stadium in an opener gift-wrapped by the home side. Alphonse Areola’s attempt to play out from the back backfired, as the West Ham goalkeeper passed straight to Gibbs-White who smashed home.

The midfielder celebrated by lifting a shirt showing Taiwo Awoniyi’s name. The Forest forward was placed in an induced coma this week after undergoing urgent surgery for a ruptured intestine sustained after colliding with the post last weekend.

Forest doubled their lead just after the hour. Anthony Elanga’s wicked delivery was flicked on by Nikola Milenkovic, with the goal given after a lengthy VAR check for offside in a packed penalty box.

West Ham set up a nervy finish four minutes from time. Jarrod Bowen’s brilliant flick and volley reduced the deficit, with Forest forced to hold on for 11 minutes of stoppage time. Matz Sels made a fantastic late save from Niclas Fullkrug’s stoppage-time header to ensure Forest returned to the Midlands with the points.

It’s a huge win for Forest, who move within a point of the Champions League places heading into the final weekend. Though their fate is out of their own hands, a final-day showdown with fellow contenders Chelsea at the City Ground can secure Europa League football, at the least, with a win.

Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo called on his team to ‘enjoy’ their last-day clash, despite the potential implications. He wants Forest to sign off a season that has exceeded all expectations on a positive note.

“It’s great. Let’s enjoy it, it’s going to be a good week for us,” he said to BBC Match of the Day at full-time.

“If we’d thought in the beginning of the season that we’d be playing to play in the Champions League we’d sign it.”

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