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Nottingham Forest responded to their thrashing at Bournemouth last weekend in the best way possible and it was nothing short of emphatic at the City ground on Saturday afternoon. Chris Wood’s hat-trick led the charge as Forest demolished Brighton 7-0, to send a resounding message of intent to their Premier League rivals.
Right from the blast of the whistle, the hosts were determined to make amends for their previous outing, and Nuno Espírito Santo’s tactical tweak to a back five paid off. Danilo’s return to the starting lineup was a vital boost, and the Brazilian’s influence was evident throughout. Danilo had been absent from Premier League action since breaking his ankle in August, and his presence helped to bolster Forest’s defense.
Forest’s opener was a masterclass in counterattacking football. Danilo’s vision picked out Morgan Gibbs-White on the right flank, and the midfielder’s low cross was inadvertently turned into the net by Lewis Dunk. The Brighton captain’s own goal, his seventh in the Premier League, set the tone for a dismal afternoon for the seagulls.
As Brighton dominated possession, Forest’s defense remained resolute, a far cry from the porous unit that shipped five goals at Bournemouth. Anthony Elanga and Wood both went close to doubling the lead, but it was Gibbs-White who scored with a clever flicked header from Elanga’s corner.
The second half was more of the same, with Forest content to absorb Brighton’s pressure and strike on the counter. Wood’s second goal had Forest’s clinical finishing on parade, as Elanga’s pinpoint cross found the New Zealander at the back post. Wood’s movement was intelligent, as he nodded home with ease.
Fabian Hürzeler’s triple substitution at halftime failed to stem the tide, and Forest continued to exploit Brighton’s defensive loopholes. Elanga’s third assist of the game allowed Wood to tap into an empty net, and the striker completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after Tariq Lamptey was adjudged to have held Gibbs-White in the box.
The City Ground faithful were delirious, and accord Wood a standing ovation as he made way for Taiwo Awoniyi. The substitute played a key role in creating Forest’s sixth goal, as Neco Williams thumped the ball home from close range. Jota Silva’s seventh goal in the dying embers of the game was the icing on the cake for Forest.
This club-record Premier League win was the perfect antidote to Forest’s last weekend’s dismal show, and Nuno Espírito Santo’s side will be buoyed by this resounding victory as they seek to consolidate their top-four ambitions. The win moved Forest level on points with second-placed Arsenal, and the City Ground erupted as the final whistle sounded.
