Nottingham Forest have positioned themselves for a potentially “magical” achievement following a significant 2-1 victory against West Ham United. The win in London has kept Forest in the race for a top-five finish, with just one game remaining in the Premier League season. Goals from Morgan Gibbs-White and Nikola Milenkovic have propelled Nuno Espirito Santo’s team to within a single point of the Champions League spots. This result sets up a thrilling and potentially decisive final-day clash against Chelsea at the City Ground next Sunday. The team dedicated their triumph over the Hammers to their teammate Taiwo Awoniyi, who is recovering from a severe abdominal injury sustained in a recent match against Leicester City.
Nuno Espirito Santo said: “Since the beginning of the preparations, T was on our minds due to the seriousness of the situation. The boys wanted to do it for T. Our final words were to give it a push and a go for T. He is someone we really admire and his smile is contagious. We need him. The boys did it for him and we are so proud. Since the beginning of the season, we wanted to be in this fight (for the Champions League). We achieved it. If you had said in the beginning it would be possible, you would have said no. But we are in it and the last game at the City Ground is going to be huge for us. It is trying to achieve something magical.”
Nuno Espirito Santo said: “We played good. We started well; we were organised and pressing really well. It was open and both goalkeepers had to make fantastic saves. But after that, we were in control and scored a good goal. We started the second half really well and then the game changes. It is another reality of football, the stoppage time, and then it is all about nerves and anxiety trying to finish the game.”
The match saw Forest take control with a 2-0 lead as the game approached the hour mark. However, they had to endure a tense finish, including 11 minutes of stoppage time, after Jarrod Bowen scored a late goal for West Ham. Despite the pressure, Forest held on to secure the vital win. The upcoming clash with Chelsea will be pivotal, as it could determine Forest’s entry into the Champions League, an achievement that seemed improbable at the start of the season. The team’s resilience and dedication to their injured teammate have been key motivators in their impressive campaign.
**Tags:** #NottinghamForest, #ChampionsLeague, #PremierLeague, #NunoEspiritoSanto, #InjuryUpdates, #SeasonInsight
