Nottingham Forest

Jess Anderson
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

After a tumultuous few weeks where Nottingham Forest were handed a four-point deduction for breaches of the Premier League's financial rules, Nuno Espirito Santo's side urgently needed to do their talking on the pitch to put breathing space between themselves and the bottom three.

A superb first-half performance with goals from Callum Hudson-Odoi, Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White was enough to ensure they took all three points against Fulham on Tuesday.

Coupled with the point they earned against Crystal Palace on Saturday, that four-point deduction has now been cancelled out with the club also saying they will appeal the decision.

An appeal process alone cannot be relied upon but positives must be taken from the performance at the City Ground.

Wood's brilliant strike meant he has scored in three consecutive Premier League appearances, while Hudson-Odoi has racked up five goals in 22 Forest appearances - having needed 72 outings to yield four for Chelsea.

Nuno's side have taken a much-needed step towards safety with their first ever win over Fulham in the top flight and, three points clear of the drop zone, they will travel to Tottenham on Sunday with renewed confidence about their hopes of staying up.

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Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo speaking to BBC Match of the Day:

"We played good. We started the game much better compared to the previous game. One of the best starts we've had in terms of the way we attacked and the overall balance.

"Our fans always support us but we have to give the energy back and then it comes back to the pitch too and the players feel the energy by their actions, the way they work and every action they ignite the crowd. When we attack and the effort to defend.

"We still have to regret some aspects but let's not ignore the things we did very well."

On Morgan Gibbs-White: "He's very talented, no doubt about that. He's reaching the levels of a footballer player that is almost complete. He reads the game well, he has talent, he can score. The biggest challenge is to keep Morgan at that level and sustain this level of all the players. Many players did well behind him to allow him to attack."

On improving on performance: "We had clear chances by an inch that we did not achieve. We will keep repeating so we can take 100% of them and try to reach perfection that is our main obsession.

"It's important but it can not distract us because we have a long way to go. We've had good performances before and not been able to sustain them so let's take that into this game and try to sustain the performance."

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Former Everton and Sheffield United defender Phil Jagielka on BBC Radio 5 Live:

"That is exactly the result and performance Nottingham Forest needed.

"When the City Ground is in full voice like that it is an amazing stadium to play at but it is difficult for the fans to create that atmosphere when they go to home games if they are nervous and worried.

"They had been docked a few points which they are hoping to get back, but the win tonight is massive for them. To bounce back in this manner and get the result is great and puts down a bit of marker to Luton Town for tomorrow who will need a result themselves to keep pace.

"The new approach brought in by Nuno Espirito Santo to Forest, they play with two wide men who make the pitch really big and have a target man up top - that gives Morgan Gibbs-White the space in the pockets to pick up the ball and create.

"He is a very inventive player and they are the areas you want him to be picking up the ball in and expressing himself... To be involved in all three goals in the game shows just how fantastic a game he had.

"Forest will be hoping that they can go on and build on the win now and record a few more."

Here are the key facts and figures following Nottingham Forest's Premier League win over Fulham:

• Nottingham Forest are unbeaten in each of their past three league games (W1 D2), their longest run since three successive draws in October earlier this season.

• Fulham have conceded at least three goals in successive Premier League games for the first time since March 2023, while they've won just one of their past 15 away league matches (D5 L9).

• Fulham's three substitutes in the 33rd minute is the second-earliest a side has made three substitutions in a Premier League game after Stoke made their third against Sunderland in the 30th minute in February 2009.

• Nottingham Forest's Chris Wood has scored in three successive Premier League games for the first time since May 2021, with the final game in that run coming against Fulham, which was also the last time he scored from outside the box in the competition before this game.

• Callum Hudson-Odoi's five Premier League goals for Nottingham Forest this season (22 games) is one more than he managed in 72 appearances in the competition for Chelsea (four).

• Andreas Pereira has seven assists from dead balls since the since the start of last season in the Premier League for Fulham, with only James Ward-Prowse recording more during that time.

Nottingham Forest gave their hopes of Premier League survival a crucial boost with a convincing victory over Fulham at the City Ground.

Despite Fulham threatening a comeback in the second period, the home side's three first-half goals were enough to move them three points clear of the relegation zone.

Callum Hudson-Odoi opened the scoring after nine minutes, cutting inside and slotting home after Morgan Gibbs-White's sublime threaded pass found the forward on the left-hand side.

Chris Wood continued his impressive goalscoring form 10 minutes later with a superb strike from range - his eighth in nine appearances - before Gibbs-White added a third, placing a low drive into the bottom corner.

It looked like Forest had the points wrapped up by half-time but a breathless second period began with Tosin Adarabioyo's glancing header pulling one back for the visitors after just five minutes.

Chances were in abundance at both ends as Neco Williams hammered a shot off the bar and a fine Matz Sels save denied Adarabioyo a second, while Kenny Tete clipped the underside of the bar.

The result leaves Fulham 12th while 17th-placed Forest will travel to Tottenham on Sunday with renewed confidence about their hopes of staying up.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?

Forest fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, Fulham fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

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

All kick-off times BST

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Around the grounds - listen to BBC Radio 5 Live's coverage of all things Premier League

Chris Sutton is making predictions for every Premier League game this season against a variety of guests.

For the midweek matches on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, he takes on UB40 drummer and Birmingham City fan Jimmy Brown.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

I was wrong when I thought Fulham would beat Sheffield United on Saturday, and Marco Silva's side have not picked up many points on the road this season.

So Nottingham Forest will definitely see this as a winnable game - but the same applied to their past two fixtures, against Luton Town and Crystal Palace, and they did not win either of those.

Chris Wood is bailing Forest out at the moment with some important goals, and I would not be surprised if he scored again - but I expect this one will end up being a draw.

Brown's prediction: 2-1

Read the rest of their predictions here

Newcastle United and Tottenham have been told they will have to pay more than £50m if they want to sign midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest, who may be forced to move because of their financial difficulties. (Football Insider), external

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

Pat Riddell
Fan writer

Confidence counts for a lot in football.

With it, teams win games, players are transformed and fans believe. Without it, losing becomes habit, performances whither and the atmosphere sours.

Nottingham Forest appear to be eternally caught between the two. Confidence ebbs and flows like the River Trent. One half can be uneasy, hesitant, frustrating; the other can be slick and fluid, attacking and purposeful.

Confidence is not something you can switch on and off. And possessing a lack of it is not something that can be solved quickly. But if Forest are to survive this season, they must harness the moments when they reflect who they really are.

Chris Wood’s goal against Crystal Palace on Saturday was born from incisive passing, creative vision, innate understanding and an eye for goal. The flashes of quality the Reds have shown this season bare all of those hallmarks.

The fans feed off that euphoria, the players feed off the energy… but when confidence is shot, those moments are short lived. Forest’s chief goal in the remaining eight games this season is to keep their heads, maintain any momentum they can and remember the basics. It’s evident they have the ability but confidence can change like the wind.

Pat Riddell can be found at The Famous Club, external

Here are the key facts and figures before Tuesday's Premier League fixture between Nottingham Forest and Fulham

• Having won their last two Premier League games of 2023 against Newcastle and Manchester United, Nottingham Forest have won just one of their 10 so far in 2024 (D3 L6).

• Fulham have won all three of their Premier League games against Nottingham Forest by an aggregate score of 10-2. They’ve never won four in a row against an opponent in the competition.

• Fulham have won just one of their past 14 Premier League away games (D5 L8), while only Sheffield United (1) have won fewer overall on the road this term than the Cottagers (2).

• 50% of Chris Wood’s Premier League goals for Nottingham Forest this season have been headers (5/10). Only in 2018-19 (6) has he ever scored more headed goals in a single campaign in the competition than his five so far this term.

• Fulham have scored at least three goals in nine different Premier League games this season, including in three of their past four. They last scored 3+ goals in more games in a single top-flight campaign back in 1965-66 (10).

We asked for your thoughts on Saturday's Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace.

Here are some of your responses:

Nottingham Forest fans

David: Forest were obviously nervous until half time and going a goal behind did little for confidence. Second half was better and after scoring it looked for a while that we would take the lead, until the nerves re-emerged. Fulham will cause us difficulties.

Kris: Nuno has to take responsibility for what feels like a defeat. A point at home to a struggling team just isn’t good enough. Too many are playing like they don’t care how close we are to the drop, a reflection of the scattergun recruitment that has left us with an unbalanced squad. It has to improve, and quickly.

Steve: The worst first half performance of the season, no creativity from midfield. Yates and Sangare are too slow to move the ball and neither of them as defensive midfield players can make a tackle. Origi? Time is up. Nuno quite clearly out of his depth in the Prem. Same old team selection when those players quite clearly don’t have the fight!

Crystal Palace fans

Ian: A good point on the road for Palace. Young Adam Wharton and the tenacious Daniel Munoz have been great January signings.

Don: Out fought and out played by Forest for most of the game. It was as if Roy was still manager playing 5-4-1 as we defended (albeit very well). Stood in the away end the fan frustration was obvious after the equaliser. The Glasner revolution is still to arrive.

Robert: We fought hard throughout the game but once again a 1-0 lead doesn't last. Eze was unlucky not to score with brilliant saves by Sels the Forest keeper. There were spells of unusual possession by Palace, something you don't see very often. The next away game at Bournemouth is crucial to get a result as it's Man City and Liverpool next!

Alex Scott introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's eight Premier League fixtures.

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

Listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra match commentary in full:

Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace

Aston Villa v Wolves

Charlotte Coates
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

It was always going to be an emotional experience for Nottingham Forest in what was their first game since receiving a four point deduction for breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules.

As the players walked out of tunnel, the Trent End displayed a banner displaying the words "we shall fight and we shall overcome."

Forest didn't overcome today but they certainly did fight to earn a point in a match that Palace missed good chances to secure all three points.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side haven't won since 17 February and know this is now the time to turn that form around as they battle the likes of Luton, Everton and Brentford to stay in the top flight.

If the draw with Palace is anything to go off then Forest certainly won't be dropping down a division without a fight.

Nuno Espirito Santo spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Nottingham Forest's draw with Crystal Palace: "We wanted another result, in these games at home we expect more, we wanted more.

"The game started badly so the reaction was a positive but, at the same time, I think we did enough. We were more dominant, we controlled the game.

"It's difficult to play Palace, they reduce the spaces and rely on the counter-attack and have quality players.

"It was a tough situation to manage trying to go for the game at the same time.

"We showed character, the City Ground was there for us again and we get a point. We wanted three, we get one but it is one that has to be valuable."

On Chris Wood's goal: "It's a good finish, I think that was the only solution that he had. A beautiful header. We need Chris, we need goals and he is delivering. He's an amazing player."

"It was difficult because the spaces were there more for crossing in the wide areas. We tried to create different things but we kept going. I will re-watch the game and see what really happened when the emotions aren't there.

"We needed this win but there are positives to take to the next game."

On Matz Sels' saves: "This is what we want our goalkeeper to do. To help us stay in the game and give us opportunities to go again."

• Nottingham Forest have lost none of their eight Premier League meetings with Crystal Palace (W3 D5), both the most they’ve faced a side without ever losing and the most the Eagles have faced a side without ever winning.

• Nottingham Forest have gone 1-0 down in 17 different Premier League games this season with only Sheffield United (21), Luton (20) and Burnley (18) conceding first more often.

• Crystal Palace have failed to win any of their past nine Premier League away games (D4 L5), since a 2-0 win at Burnley in November. However, they have scored in all but one of those matches (a 5-0 loss at Arsenal in January).

• Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood has scored more headed goals than any other player in the Premier League this season (5).

• Jean-Philippe Mateta has five goal involvements in his past seven Premier League appearances for Crystal Palace (4 goals, 1 assist), as many as in his previous 25, while 2023-24 is now the Frenchman’s outright top scoring campaign (6 goals).

Nottingham Forest fought back to secure a point against Crystal Palace at the City Ground and move out of the Premier League relegation zone.

The hosts fell behind in their first match since being docked four points for financial rules breaches, with Jean-Philippe Mateta slotting home Eberechi Eze's perfect lay-off.

But Chris Wood equalised just after the hour mark, nodding Morgan Gibbs-White's floated pass over oncoming Palace keeper Dean Henderson for his 10th goal of the season.

Nuno Espirito Santo's Forest had dropped into the bottom three after their points deduction, but this point moves them up to 17th - above Luton on goal difference.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?

Forest fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, Palace fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

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

BBC Radio 5 Live commentaries:

• Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace

• Aston Villa v Wolves

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Listen to national and local radio commentaries and follow live text updates here

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

For this weekend's games, he takes on Gladiators star Bionic.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Nottingham Forest should have beaten Luton in their last game, and the points they dropped there could prove pivotal in their fight to stay up.

This is Forest's first game since the points deduction that saw them fall below the Hatters and drop into the relegation zone but they have been in wretched form recently, and I am not sure what kind of reaction we will see from them here.

Crystal Palace's last game was a draw against Luton too - I was at Selhurst Park to see it, but I still don't know what to expect from them under new boss Oliver Glasner.

Glasner has had a bit of time on the training ground with some of his players in the past couple of weeks so we might see some signs of that here.

I just don't see Forest losing this one, though. The big question is whether they will do enough to win it.

Bionic's prediction: 2-1

The points deduction might rally Forest a bit - they need it to, because their form has not been very good - but their fans will get behind them, which should help.

See the full list of predictions here

Saveena Johal
Fan writer

It is safe to say the new manager bounce never really happened for us.

Things appeared to be taking a turn at St James Park when Chris Wood slotted a hat-trick into the back of Newcastle’s net. That match now feels like a distant memory, overshadowed by a tangled heap of misgivings.

While we look a better side under Nuno Espirito Santo, a catalogue of errors have considerably pulled us back. These have severely limited our chance of progression and hampered our ability to climb the table.

Unfavourable decision-making, poor set-piece defending and the points deduction have all affected us. The number of points dropped from winning positions also remains a concern. It is enough to lower the most positive of Reds supporters into the realm of pessimism. But not disloyalty.

Surely, it can only get better for us from here?

The international break may have come at a good time for us, as it is an opportunity to reset. Hopefully it gives way to a boost in morale that the players and fans so desperately need. Here's to hoping.

Three points this weekend are more than achievable. We have long been waiting for results to start matching our performances - it feels like now or never.

Saveena Johal can be found at Punjabi Forest, external