West Ham 1-2 Nottingham Forest: Highlights, man of the match, stats as the Reds significantly boost Champions League hopes

Nottingham Forest have boosted their chances of claiming a top-five position in the Premier League table, having recorded a 2-1 victory over West Ham United in Sunday’s contest at the London Stadium.

Morgan Gibbs-White and Nikola Milenkovic scored the goals for Nuno Espirito Santo‘s side, and the victory has left them in seventh spot in the division, just one point behind fifth-placed Aston Villa with one game left.

Forest are only two points behind third-placed Newcastle United, meanwhile, with the Reds very much in the Champions League argument ahead of a huge game against Chelsea on the final matchday of the campaign.

Gibbs-White scored following a mistake from West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, before Milenkovic converted a free kick from Anthony Elanga just past the hour, and it proved to be Forest’s 19th league victory of the campaign, with the Reds holding on late on after Jarrod Bowen had scored with a spectacular effort.

As for West Ham, Graham Potter‘s side remain 15th in the table, boasting only 40 points from their 37 matches, which has left them one point above 16th-placed Manchester United and two ahead of 17th-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

SPORTS MOLE’S VERDICT

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Forest had to win; they had to find a way to pick up all three points at the London Stadium.

For all of West Ham’s troubles this season, this was still a huge test for Forest, and they passed it, with the sensational Gibbs-White, who is set to leave this summer, opening the scoring, before Milenkovic doubled the away side’s advantage.

Forest have been wobbling of late, winning just one of their last six in the league ahead of this game, but Sunday’s victory in the capital has left them just one point off the Champions League positions in England’s top flight.

Nuno’s side will now be waiting to see what Arsenal, Newcastle United and Manchester City come up with in their gameweek 37 matches, but Forest have done their job, and it remains to be seen what occurs in the huge fixture with Chelsea next weekend.

As for West Ham, this was their 17th league defeat of the campaign, and there is plenty of work to do for Potter, who has inherited a squad which needs a lot of investment during this summer’s transfer window.

WEST HAM VS. NOTTINGHAM FOREST HIGHLIGHTS

Morgan Gibbs-White goal vs. West Ham United (11th min, West Ham 0-1 Forest)

Forest take the lead in the 11th minute of the contest, as Gibbs-White takes advantage of a mistake from West Ham goalkeeper Areola, who passed straight to the Forest attacker, and he makes no mistake from inside the penalty box.

Nikola Milenkovic goal vs. West Ham United (61st min, West Ham 0-2 Forest)

Forest double their advantage in the 61st minute of the contest, as Milenkovic heads a free-kick delivery from Elanga into the back of the net – there is a VAR check for offside, but it stands, and the visitors are 2-0 ahead here.

Jarrod Bowen goal vs. Nottingham Forest (86th min, West Ham 1-2 Forest)

West Ham have a route back into the match, and it is Bowen on the scoresheet, with the England international firing into the back of the net with an excellent volley after some poor defending from the away team.

MAN OF THE MATCH – NIKOLA MILENKOVIC

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What a signing Milenkovic has been for Forest.

The 27-year-old was at his best on Sunday afternoon, making three tackles and winning two aerial duels, while he also boasted a pass success rate of 88%, in addition to his goal, with the centre-back in terrific form against the Hammers.

WEST HAM VS. NOTTINGHAM FOREST MATCH STATS

Possession: West Ham 61%-39% Nottingham Forest
Shots: West Ham 16-10 Nottingham Forest
Shots on target: West Ham 5-5 Nottingham Forest
Corners: West Ham 8-7 Nottingham Forest
Fouls: West Ham 14-7 Nottingham Forest

WHAT NEXT?

Forest will conclude their Premier League campaign with a huge clash against fellow top-five hopefuls Chelsea next Sunday.

As for West Ham, the Hammers will be bidding to end what has been a largely disappointing season on a positive note when they make the trip to relegated side Ipswich Town on the same afternoon.

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