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:
West Ham searching for points
West Ham have lost six of their last eight fixtures in all competitions with just one win and one draw in that run which includes a 2-0 home defeat against Manchester City last week.
All seven of West Ham’s away wins in the Premier League last season came against sides that finished in the bottom half of the table.
They took only one point out of a possible 27 against the teams that finished in the top half.
Nottingham Forest vs West Ham team changes
Steve Cooper makes two changes to the team that lost 2-0 to Newcastle on the opening weekend of the season. Orel Mangala and Taiwo Awoniyi come in to replace Jack Colback and Sam Surridge.
Meanwhile, there is just one change for West Ham as Manuel Lanzini is replaced with Said Benrahma.
Nottingham Forest vs West Ham line-ups
Nottingham Forest XI: Henderson; Worrall, Niakhate, McKenna; Williams, O’Brien, Mangala, Toffolo, Lingard; Awoniyi, Johnson.
West Ham XI: Fabianski; Coufal, Johnson, Zouma, Cresswell; Rice, Soucek, Fornals; Benrahma, Bowen, Antonio.
Antonio on returning to Forest
Michail Antonio spent just over a year at Nottingham Forest scoring 19 goals in just 54 appearances before moving on to pastures new and the West Ham forward is looking forward to returning to the City Ground toady.
“I was there for a season and I enjoyed that year,” he reflected. “So it’s really nice going back. It’s weird going back to be fair, I’ve not been back since I’ve left and actually I’m quite excited.
“In that season, I managed to get 15 goals and 15 assists. I was there for the first part of the next season as well and I managed to get four more goals. So I’m hoping that I get a nice response coming back. But obviously I’m coming back wearing different colours, so I’ll understand if I don’t!
“I’ve got huge respect for them, but obviously I’m going to go out there and do my job. And hopefully I do score.”
Back in the top-flight
This is Nottingham Forest’s 200th Premier League match. They’ve won 60, drawn 59 and lost 80.
It is also their first Premier League home game since May 1999, when a Chris Bart-Williams goal gave them a 1-0 win against Leicester.
Nottingham Forest sign Emmanuel Dennis from Watford
Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of Nigeria striker Emmanuel Dennis from Watford.
The 24-year-old scored 10 goals for the Hornets in the Premier League last season but could not help to keep them up.
Dennis featured in Watford’s opening two Sky Bet Championship matches but did not feature in the squad for Friday night’s win over Burnley as he finalised a switch to the City Ground.
Nottingham Forest sign Emmanuel Dennis from Watford
The 24-year-old scored 10 goals for the Hornets in the Premier League last season, but could not help to keep them up
Head-to-head: Nottingham Forest vs West Ham
This is the first meeting between the two sides since an FA Cup third-round tie in January 2014, which Forest won 5-0 at the City Ground.
Forest have won only two of their last 21 league fixtures against West Ham with eight draws and 11 defeats during that time.
Cooper on facing West Ham at City Ground
Nottingham Forest play their first home match of the season this afternoon when they take on West Ham and manager Steve Cooper is excited to return to the City Ground albeit against a difficult opponent.
Speaking about his first experience of the Premier League as a manager, Cooper said: “We learnt a lot from last weekend and playing that first game back in the Premier League was always going to be important for us moving forward.” He added: “We are obviously disappointed when we lose a match because that’s our mentality, but I’ve liked the feeling around the training ground this week and there’s a real motivation heading into Sunday. “We know this weekend is important for both ourselves and the people of Nottingham and we should thrive off that, it’s our first home game back in the Premier League and we’re proud to be part of it, no doubt about that. “At the same time we’ve got to focus on what we’re in control of - the game, the result, the performance and that’s where our attention will be and we know our supporters will be right behind us.
“We’re playing against a strong team who had an excellent campaign last year and I’ve got a lot of respect for David Moyes, so we’re really looking forward to it.”
Moyes on Cooper
In the build-up to today’s match West Ham boss, David Moyes, spoke about his counterpart, Steve Cooper, and how impressed he was at the way Nottingham Forest earned promotion from the Championship last year.
“I’ve got big respect for Nottingham Forest’s manager, Steve Cooper.” said Moyes, “I think he’s done an incredible job to get Nottingham Forest in the Premier League from where they were last year. You have to give him huge praise for what they’ve done.
“I’ve been really impressed with how they’ve gone about their work in the last twelve months or so.”
Early team news for Nottingham Forest vs West Ham
Defender Scott McKenna is a major doubt for Nottingham Forest after picking up an injury in training. Definitely absent are Ryan Yates and Steve Cook who are not yet ready to return to full training.
West Ham manager David Moyes says new signings Maxwel Cornet and Gianluca Scamacca are ready to start if needed and Michail Antonio has overcome the minor knock he suffered against Manchester City last week.
Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski went off injured in that match and remains a doubt.
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