Nottingham Forest v West Ham LIVE: Premier League result, final score & reaction as Forest seal memorable win
Follow the action from the City Ground as Steve Cooper’s Forest take on David Moyes’ Hammers
Nottingham Forest won their first Premier League home game for 23 years with a 1-0 success over West Ham.
The City Ground had not hosted a top-flight match since 1999 and Taiwo Awoniyi ensured it was a winning homecoming for Forest with his first-half goal. The striker, who until Saturday night was the club’s record signing this summer, bundled home from close range to become the first Forest player to score a Premier League goal since Chris Bart-Williams all those years ago.
It got them up and running after defeat at Newcastle on the opening weekend and, on this evidence, Steve Cooper’s men are going to be a welcome addition to the top flight.
However, they did have goalkeeper Dean Henderson to thank for keeping the three points as he saved Declan Rice’s second-half penalty. He also made several other saves while Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma both hit the underside of the crossbar for the luckless Hammers, with the latter also seeing an opening goal ruled out by VAR in the first half.
Follow all the reaction as Nottingham Forest beat West Ham Utd in the Premier League:
Nottingham Forest 0-0 West Ham
23 mins: Vladimir Coufal loses the ball high up the pitch and Forest pick out Awoniyi up the pitch on the inside left channel. He drives at Kurt Zouma and has Brennan Johnson ahead of him waving wildly for the pass.
Awoniyi holds on to it too long and when his pass eventually comes across it’s too close to Fabianski who easily scoops up the ball.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 West Ham
20 mins: West Ham win a corner that Bowen curls into the middle of the box. Kurt Zouma looks to be the target but Dean Henderson is sharply off his line and flaps it away where the ball bounces out for a throw in.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 West Ham
17 mins: Chance! Said Benrahma collects the ball and cuts in from the left side of the pitch. He brings the ball into a central area before having a shy at goal.
Dean Henderson leaps to his left and keeps it out with a strong hand but almost pushes the ball to the waiting Tomas Soucek. Harry Toffolo is switched on to the danger and squeezes between the midfielder and the ball before nudging it out of play to safety.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 West Ham
15 mins: Chance! Nottingham Forest are causing real problems with crosses into the penalty area. Neco Williams whips one in from the right wing and Taiwo Awoniyi is perfectly positioned in between Kurt Zouma and Ben Johnson.
The striker wins the header and whips it agonisingly wide of the left-hand post.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 West Ham
12 mins: Jesse Lingard pushes up the pitch and receives the ball before driving at Declan Rice. Rice is caught on the wrong side of the ball and brings Lingard down trying to recover it. That tackle earns him a yellow card.
The resultant free kick is hung up to the far side of the box and West Ham fail to deal with it properly. Scott McKenna sends it back to Orel Mangala who flicks a first time cross back into the area. Jarrod Bowen tries to clear it and leaps above Moussa Niakhate but his header knocks the ball back towards his own goal.
Lukasz Fabianski is switched on though and manages to tip the ball onto the crossbar and behind for another Forest corner.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 West Ham
9 mins: Michail Antonio shows his poise and power by chesting the ball down from a Lukasz Fabianski long ball. He spins towards goal and shifts in front of Lewis O’Brien who is drawn into a foul.
Close! Aaron Cresswell takes the free kick for West Ham and curls his shot just wide of the back post.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 West Ham
6 mins: Forest’s corner comes to nothing but it’s been a decent start from the home side.
Declan Rice goes through Awoniyi just outside the West Ham box and gifts Forest a free kick in a dangerous area. Neco Williams is over the set piece. He goes for goal and hoofs it high and wide.
Not his best effort that one.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 West Ham
3 mins: Dean Henderson’s clearance drops for Lewis O’Brien in the middle of the pitch and he plays it to Harry Toffolo on the left wing.
Toffolo slides a short pass behind the West Ham defence where Taiwo Awoniyi arrives and wins a corner for the home side.
Kick off: Nottingham Forest 0-0 West Ham
West Ham get the ball rolling for this Sunday’s Premier League action. They work it over to the right side of the pitch but the ball goes straight out of play for a Nottingham Forest throw in.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments