Nottingham Forest

John Bennett
Final Score reporter

Image source, Getty Images

That was a statement performance by Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Many of the home supporters sitting around me were talking about it being the best they’ve seen the club play since the 1990s and the statistics back that up: The biggest Premier League victory since August 1996, ending a day in the top three of the top-flight for the first time since September1998 and making it three back to back wins in the Premier League for the first time since 1999.

There are so many individuals you could pick out for praise in the Forest side right now. Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic compliment each other perfectly at the back, Chris Wood is getting numbers close to Erling Haaland levels and Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga look dangerous on every counter-attack.

After watching Saturday’s game inside the stadium though, I have a question for Forest fans: Are the full-backs the unsung heroes in your team? They were both superb against West Ham so I certainly think so.

Ola Aina was mostly up against Crysencio Summerville, a player not only full of confidence after his goal against Manchester United but also full of tricks and the Nigerian hardly gave the former Leeds winger a kick. Brian Laws, a brilliant full-back for Brian Clough’s Forest in the late 1980s and early 1990s, was singing Aina’s praises in the press box for the way he was closing down Summerville. Then at the other end of course he scored a goal of the month contender with a left-foot screamer. What a great all round performance.

As for Alex Moreno, he also made the defensive work against the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta look easy. On top of that he was also there to support and cut inside or outside of Hudson-Odoi, creating the crucial opening goal for Chris Wood with a clever run and perfect cross.

What a time to be a Forest fan. Everywhere you look on that City ground pitch there are players in the form of their lives. This is going to be a special season for the red side of Nottingham.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and West Ham.

Here are some of your comments:

Nottingham Forest fans:

Luke: Without question the best win of our time in the Premier League. So much freedom and confidence in the team, it’s hard to not get carried away with where this season may take us. Must be tempered with the reality that West Ham were awful, but maybe it was us that made them look that bad? Can’t wait until the next game!

Matt: We’re a totally transformed team from our first 2 seasons back in the Premier League. Cohesion at the back, a threat at going forward. Still early days but to be third from top instead of third from bottom is something else! Nuno has worked extremely hard with these players and is getting the rewards! Three wins on the bounce!

Kris: Forest were irresistible, the back four immense with Moreno and Aina creating and scoring goals. Wood is thriving under Nuno and Anderson came on to show everyone why losing MGW wasn’t the blow it could have been. Third in the league…it’s like the Clough years are back on Trentside!

Ken: Contenders. City, and Arsenal definitely beatable and we've already beaten Liverpool on their own pitch and drawn with Chelsea. We have one of the most talented squads in the league, with excellent quality cover for every position and a truly superb coach at long last. If Leicester can do it, why can't we? Let's see how far we go! No fear.

West Ham fans:

Liam: I was there. We were hopeless. The body language of the players said it all. No communication, no pace, no plan and no desire. Manager will soon run out of time. Forest were everything we were not so fair play to them. Ten men or not, I suspect the result would have been the same.

Joe: The rhetoric will be the mistake was to get rid of Moyes. Wrong, the mistake was hiring Lopetegui. It's 12 competitive games now and I am still no clearer on what his style of play is or what his strongest team is. He’s clueless and the players are clearly not playing for him - Alvarez red and our constant capitulations when going behind are clear examples.

Matthew: Same old West Ham. No energy, no desire to get the ball forward and a real lack of cohesion appearing in the increasing cracks within our squad. Paqueta looks like he doesn't want to play for us anymore, we'll never get a goal at the City Ground and Chris Wood will keep on scoring against us till he's 49!

Roger: After 10 games there has been no discerning improvement. The strategy is lacking as is an absence of in-match tactics. The team are vulnerable at the back and the midfield absent at critical phases of the game. I can’t see that things are going to improve while Lopetegui remains.

Ex-West Ham manager David Moyes and former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker have spoken on the BBC's Football Daily podcast about Nottingham Forest's superb start to the Premier League season.

Moyes: "Chris Wood has been fantastic and I'm really pleased because we spoke earlier [in the podcast] about the lack of centre forwards, but Wood is a bit of an old-fashioned target man and his spell at Forest is as good as he's had for a long time.

"I think they've got a really balanced team at the moment. The manager took some time to settle in there, but he's now getting used to the club, they're getting used to him and they're picking up great results.

"It's very difficult when you're in that position, there are some really good teams below Nottingham Forest, which will mean it will take a bit of doing to hang in there. We've had it a couple of times at West Ham recently, where it becomes so hard to hang in with the level of sides below you."

Reo-Coker: "I think they will be able to maintain it because they don't have to worry about Europe.

"Sometimes, when you've got certain players, managers don't always play to their strengths. With Chris Wood, you've got the two wingers who are providing service and using him at his best. When a striker starts getting goals and feeling confident, it's only going to get better.

"I think Forest could achieve something special this year."

Listen to more analysis of the weekend's action on BBC Sounds

English midfielder Lewis O'Brien, 26, looks set to make a permanent £7m move to Los Angeles FC when his loan from Nottingham Forest ends in January. (Sun), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Liverpool 2-1 Brighton

• Wolves 2-2 Crystal Palace

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo spoke after today's win: "You know me. Now I'm thinking about Tuesday and the next training session.

"This is what is important, you know better than me, it doesn't mean anything now.

"We just have to keep going, keep going, keep going. It's a very long season ahead, every player is going to be needed.

"It is a positive moment. We worked very hard this week, this is what we are focused on. We have to work and work hard and improve much more.

On what has been done differently: "Nothing has changed since the beginning, we have to keep on going. Believe me, there is no other way. If you get distracted, football doesn't forgive you.

"I think the longer the team is together, the better the players will know each other, the options we have coming back, the group should be stronger and as time goes by the bond will grow.

"This is my belief."

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest vice-captain Ryan Yates speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live after today's victory: "We were really getting into it at the end and we wanted more goals. Unfortunately mine didn't go in but we are delighted with today's work."

On whether pre-season with Nuno has helped Forest's start to the season: "He can really implement the ideas. There are many things that have gone into why we were doing well. I think the recruitment has been fantastic. We have kept the core together and we are doing really well.

"There are still things we can improve on. They are a tough opposition and they went down to 10 men which changed things but you can only beat what is in front of you."

Image source, Getty Images

• Nottingham Forest secured their biggest Premier League victory since beating Coventry City 3-0 back in August 1996. The Reds will also end the day in the top three of the top-flight for the first time since 7th September 1998.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Nottingham Forest’s performance, external

What did you make of West Ham’s display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 10 he takes on The Piano TV series winner Brad Kella.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

West Ham got a good result against Manchester United last week which will have done them a lot of good, but I still feel they were fortunate to win that game.

I'm not talking about their late penalty that gave them victory, more the fact United should have been out of sight by half-time. So, am I convinced the Hammers have turned things round under Julen Lopetegui? No, not at all.

In contrast, Nottingham Forest are flying and I really like the way they are playing this season - they have a nice balance to their team.

I was born in Nottingham and used to support Forest as a kid and, the way they are playing, I am going to go back to supporting them.

You can call me a fair weather fan if you want, but I like forests – I am a big fan of Sherwood on iPlayer too – and I like woods too, especially Chris Wood.

The 'Wood-chopper' is one of the most underrated strikers of the Premier League era. I am backing him to score again, and Forest to win again.

Brad's prediction: 1-0

Forest are doing well and they should win this.

Read the full predictions and have your say

Seven matches make up Saturday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

• Newcastle v Arsenal - 12:30

• Bournemouth v Manchester City

• Ipswich v Leicester

• Liverpool v Brighton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Nottingham Forest v West Ham

• Southampton v Everton

• Wolves v Crystal Palace - 17:30 - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction

Image source, Getty Images

Former winger Matt Jarvis and three-time Premier League winner Robert Huth have praised Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood's form and the revival of the old-fashioned centre-forward.

Speaking to Sportsworld on BBC World Service, Jarvis who described Wood as a "winger's dream" said: “I used to love having someone you could cross the ball into and someone who is going to go and get on the end of it.

"I think that's exactly what he has at Forest. He's got wingers he relies heavily on because he's not going to take the ball, take three or four people on and put it into the top corner. He's relying on people to put crosses into the box, and he's got [Anthony] Elanga and [Callum] Hudson-Odoi doing that for him.

“If you look back, since Nuno [Espírito Santo] took over as manager in December, I think only Haaland scored more goals which aren't penalties, which is an incredible stat.

"He's really hitting a great vein of form, he's enjoying himself and for me you can see they're enjoying themselves. They've got an opportunity to score goals, they've taken it and now they're riding that wave of enjoying the flow.

"They can feel the results are coming, and I think he's also having that run where he knows he's going to get chances in the game and if he's in the correct position he knows he can score goals. What a place to be in as a player.”

Huth added: “I used to hate playing against an old-school number nine. I probably played against one of the best in [Didier] Drogba and Alan Shearer, you knew in the game, you knew the ball was going to come in the box and you’re having to defend.

“I actually had Woody [Chris Wood] when I was at Leicester when he first came through, so I know exactly what he's like. He's always been a great finisher and always had really good movement in the box, but as the game developed into a different direction with a false number nine, he didn't probably get the chance at other Premier League clubs that he should have had.”

Image source, PA Media

Nottingham Forest midfielder Ryan Yates says he still harbours hopes of representing England.

The 26-year-old has helped Forest make an excellent start to the Premier League season.

"It's always a possibility, it is every young boy's dream to play for their country," he said. "I feel like I am playing really well, but I feel like I can give even more.

"I feel I have got plenty more to come. I honestly take each day as it comes, but I want to keep improving and I never say never to anything.

"I just look back when I was on loan at Barrow, Scunthorpe and Shrewsbury and now I am playing in the Premier League with Forest, third season, anything is possible because there were some dark times when I was on loan."

Yates feels he has improved as a player since Forest won promotion to the Premier League in 2022 and he added: "I do feel this is where I belong.

"This is my third season now, I feel I have progressed year on year and will continue to do so. I am really progressing under Nuno and I am pushing for more."

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest have won their last two Premier League games – they last won three in a row in the top flight in May 1999.

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport Journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against West Ham (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Nuno was asked about the press conference he did with 'Warriors United', a club for children and young adults with learning disabilities in Nottinghamshire, earlier this week: "It was a nice moment and a moment for awareness. I saw the Paralympics and I was impressed by the amazing things that people can do. The bond between us, the club and the beautiful city of Nottingham - we are getting close."

• On team news: "We have some issues that we are still assessing. [Morgan Gibbs-White] is part of the group that we have to assess. Chris [Wood], Elliot [Anderson] and Jota [Silva] have knocks."

• He addressed the rumours of contract negotiations with in-form striker Wood: "Nothing has changed. Chris is OK and doing fantastic for us. What it means to have him and his goals is more important. All things will happen naturally."

• When asked if the forward is underrated: "I cannot answer that. What he has is a huge amount of respect from all of us because he is a top professional and delivers from so many situations."

• On Saturday's opponents West Ham: "They are a very good team. They are coming from a high [after beating Manchester United]. They have a good group of experienced players and have a very good manager. Our standards must be very high."

• On the strong bond that midfielder James Ward-Prowse commented on: "I just try to provide the right environment for them to build it. Being together is the best thing. The more time they spend together, it creates bonds on and off the pitch. We work with each other for the same purpose."

• On Matz Sels' impressive form: "When we are talking about individual positions, goalkeeper is so specific and special. Confidence plays a big part, not only for him but transmitting it to the team. It makes us better and we are delighted."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Image source, Getty Images

James Ward-Prowse has spoken about the "fantastic group" of players and staff at Nottingham Forest, and his hopes that the club "challenge for something really special this season".

Speaking on BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up And Show More Football podcast about his time so far at the club, Ward-Prowse said: "I've settled in very well, it's been a fantastic group to come into.

"I've been welcomed in straight away and it's a pleasure coming into training every day and working with the players and the staff - it's been a real pleasure so far and we're looking to hopefully build."

Forest are seventh in the Premier League and the on-loan West Ham midfielder believes the camaraderie amongst the squad is key to that.

He said: "You need that to perform well in the Premier League, you can't get by on ability alone, you need a bit of togetherness and to suffer together - when you do that, you need good people around you.

"I can look around the team and bench and see a real good group of lads who are willing to fight for each other and you need that in those difficult moments in games to get results.

"The challenge is to build on the great start, we can't get carried away with how well we've been doing, but we need to focus on building on what we've done and hopefully that will leave us in good stead to challenge for something really special this season."

On Saturday, Forest face West Ham - Ward-Prowse's parent club. Speaking about the 13th-placed Hammers, he said: "The start's not been the best for them but it's still a squad full of Premier League-quality players who can hurt you at any moment.

"It's going to be a strange game watching it from a neutral perspective - I'll be sitting on my hands either way!"

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Saturday's game at the City Ground will be the first time West Ham United have played a Premier League game outside of London this season.

The latest episode of BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up And Show More Football podcast is available now on BBC Sounds.

There are reflections on Friday's win at Leicester and midfielder James Ward-Prowse joins Colin Fray, ahead of Forest facing his parent club West Ham this weekend.

Listen to the full episode

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Wood is your old-fashioned centre forward and he has been very good for Nottingham Forest so far this season.

He has always been a natural target man but Forest play to his strengths and it gives them a different dimension.

Wood's goal against Leicester was proper old-school. He rolled the defender and put it in the bottom corner. A centre-half in the modern game is not used to having to deal with a striker that likes a physical battle.

The game has changed so we now see so many teams using their number ten high up the pitch or a rotational number nine. There are not many number nines in any league now that are your target man like Alan Shearer and Didier Drogba were.

There has almost been a lost generation of those players, so it is nice to see Wood doing his thing and finding his form.

He is showing, once again, the importance of those type of strikers.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Pat Riddell
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Wood is on the verge of greatness. The 32-year-old needs only three more goals to become Nottingham Forest's all-time leading Premier League goalscorer.

His exquisite double against Leicester City on Friday not only moved the Reds up to fifth (back down to seventh after the weekend's other results) but meant the New Zealand international has now scored 17 goals since Nuno Espirito Santo's appointment in December. Only Erling Haaland (18) has scored more non-penalty goals in that time.

Forest's rather meagre Premier League showing in the 1990s means that Wood has now drawn level with Stan Collymore's 22 goals and is just two short of Bryan Roy's long-standing record of 24. Another three goals before January and he will have achieved that within two years.

Not bad for a player who was routinely derided when he arrived from Newcastle United in January 2023. Admittedly he struggled to fit into our style of play at the time, and evidently needed a little time to settle.

That said, his single goal that season against Manchester City - just a month after arriving - was probably worth his £15m transfer fee alone. And the point earned that day proved a very valuable addition to the 38 gained that season, with Forest finishing 16th.

During the summer, it was widely expected that a big-money striker would arrive on Trentside. Names such as Eddie Nketiah, Santiago Gimenez and Omar Marmoush were reportedly in talks, which all ultimately fell through. And while Taiwo Awoniyi is still regaining his fitness, the squad is light on strikers.

But while Wood is in the form of his life, it is working out rather well.

His all-time statistics speak for themselves; 76 goals in 236 Premier League appearances. Just 60 players have scored more times in the top flight than Wood, which prove Forest's number 11 is no flash in the pan.

Find more from Pat Riddell at The Famous Club, external