Nottingham Forest erased an early deficit to claim three massive points in the Premier League’s relegation race on Tuesday, as West Ham collapsed in the second half and let their winless run reach 10 games.
WATCH — West Ham v Nottingham Forest full match replay
The two sides entered Tuesday’s six-point showdown separated by four points in the table, with the Tricky Trees sat just above the relegation line and the Hammers just below. That gap is now seven points after Sean Dyche’s side snapped their own four-game losing streak with goals from Nicolas Dominguez and Morgan Gibbs-White. Forest defender Murillo was charged with the game’s opening goal in the 13th minute, but Dominguez equalized in the 55th and Gibbs-White earned (and scored) the decisive penalty in the 89th, when Alphonse Areola clattered into him during a corner kick.
West Ham (18th - 14 points) are now only two points above 19th-place Burnley and could find themselves in the bottom-two, if the Clarets can knock off manager-less Manchester United on Wednesday (3:15 pm ET). And just like that, Forest (17th - 21 points) are just one point behind Leeds in 16th and two to Bournemouth in 15th.
What’s next?
- Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest — Friday, 2:30 pm ET (FA Cup)
- West Ham vs QPR — Sunday, 9:30 am ET (FA Cup)
- Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham — Saturday, Jan. 17, 10 am ET (next PL fixture)
- Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal — Saturday, 12:30 pm ET (next PL fixture)
West Ham vs Nottingham Forest live updates - by Andy Edwards
West Ham vs Nottingham Forest final score: 1-2
Goalscorers: Murillo (14' - OG), Nicolas Dominguez (55'), Morgan Gibbs-White (89')
GOAL! West Ham 1-2 Forest: Gibbs-White converts from the penalty spot after Areola clobbers him (89')
GOAL! West Ham 1-1 Forest: Dominguez equalizes right after VAR denies Hammers (55')
GOAL! West Ham 1-0 Forest: Soucek’s header comes off Murillo and goes in (14')
West Ham starting lineup
Areola - Walker-Peters, Todibo, Mavropanos, Scarles - Soucek, Fernandes, Paqueta - Bowen, Summerville, Castellanos
Nottingham Forest starting lineup
Sels - Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams - Anderson, Dominguez, Gibbs-White - Hutchinson, Hudson-Odoi, Jesus
How to watch West Ham vs Nottingham Forest live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Tuesday (January 6)
Venue: London Stadium — East London
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch on USA Network
The Hammers are in the relegation zone and four points from safety (and Forest) as they haven’t won in nine and were hammered 3-0 at bottom club Wolves last time out. Nuno Espirito Santo, who started this season in charge of Forest, is in real danger of being sacked by West Ham soon if things don’t improve.
Sean Dyche’s Forest have lost four games in a row and were beaten 3-1 at Aston Villa on Saturday as they’re right back in the relegation scrap after an upturn in results in November and early December.
West Ham team news, focus
Malick Diouf and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are away at AFCON, while Jean Clair-Todibo and Lucas Paqueta are struggling with injuries. Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville are tasked with leading West Ham’s counters and at the other end they have to start defending crosses and set-pieces better.
Nottingham Forest team news, focus
Ibrahim Sangare and Willy Boly are away at AFCON while Chris Wood, Ryan Yates and now John Victor are out. Callum Hudson-Odoi and Dan Ndoye are doubts. Matz Sels will come back in to start in goal, while Forest need to be more clinical with the big chances they create on the counter and set pieces if they want to pull clear of the relegation scrap.
West Ham vs Nottingham Forest prediction
This will be a tense, edgy encounter and it will be about who finishes off counters better. West Ham are struggling for confidence and Forest will prevail. West Ham 2-3 Nottingham Forest.
