Forest’s tribute to Awoniyi showed their unity under Nuno. It was clear in the performance, too

Sports

add

As the Nottingham Forest players gathered together in front of the away end to pay tribute to Taiwo Awoniyi — the one player who was missing for the visitors at the London Stadium on Sunday — it was hard to escape the impression that they had otherwise found themselves, with perfect timing.

That they wanted to celebrate one of the most significant results of a remarkable season by showing the popular Nigerian he was in their thoughts as he recovers in hospital from abdominal surgery was a demonstration of the togetherness in Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad.

But what was every bit as encouraging as that emotional moment — as the squad held up a Forest shirt carrying Awoniyi’s name and his No 9 on the back of it — was the performance that came before it.

Forest desperately needed this 2-1 win over West Ham; it simply had to happen to preserve their slim hopes of Champions League football next season and also to give them a better chance of securing a place in the Europa League as an alternative. While a return to European competition of any kind would be something to heartily celebrate, playing in the third-tier Conference League’s qualifying rounds would somehow still feel like scant reward for a season that promised even more for so long.

After a run of one win in six league games, Forest needed to lift themselves to the levels that had got them to this point, that had carried them into the top four in December and had, for so long, seemed likely to lead them to a top-five finish at a canter.

Their chances of doing so still rely on others slipping up in the final round of fixtures next Sunday.

But these three points have ensured that when they run out to face fourth-placed visitors Chelsea, the City Ground will be an electric, deafening hive of expectation, and that there is still going to be something huge to play for.

Morgan Gibbs-White after Forest beat West Ham (Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

Nuno’s message to his players in the dressing room before kick-off had been a simple one: be yourselves, be the players that you have been for much of this season, and show the world what you are capable of in these two final games.

“Our words before the game were exactly that: let’s give the best of each one of us,” said Nuno in his post-match news conference. “We know that we are battered, that we are fatigued, that there is pressure, excitement and nerves. But let us enjoy it and hope that it brings the best out of our players. Today, some of them were phenomenal. Phenomenal.

“In previous games, bad things had been happening. Mistakes, conceding first. Today was the other way around. It took more of the line of the games we have seen this season: start well, get the goal, keep going and hold on to the result. Overall, it was much better.”

Forest’s success this season has been built on the back of a team ethos, on a strong starting XI and some key figures within it.

When Nuno used the word ‘phenomenal’ to describe the performance of a few players, he was not wrong.

Morgan Gibbs-White has been a joy to watch from the moment he signed from Wolves in the summer of 2022, immediately after Forest had won promotion from the Championship. His personal evolution has progressed along with that of the team. The two are intertwined.

At the London Stadium yesterday, his balance and poise, his swaggering confidence and creativity on the ball, were once again matched by his industry and work rate. At his best, Gibbs-White just makes Forest tick.

When he scored the opening goal of the game in the 11th minute, it was born out of his intelligence and anticipation, as he picked off an awful pass from goalkeeper Alphonse Areola inside the penalty area before lashing an emphatic finish beyond him.

Matz Sels has long led the race for this season’s Golden Glove award for the goalkeeper who has the most clean sheets in the Premier League. David Raya of Arsenal moved level with him on 13 later in the day following their 1-0 win against Newcastle, a result that leaves the teams from third place down to seventh separated by only a point, three with 66 and two on 65, at least until Manchester City play Bournemouth on Tuesday.

Sels was not able to add another clean sheet to his tally but played a leading role in this victory, making an outstanding save to deny Tomas Soucek in the first two minutes and another in the 13th added minute of a nervy finale to keep out what would have been an equaliser from Niclas Fullkrug.

In front of him, defenders Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo were in a dominant mood. Milenkovic flicked home Forest’s vital second goal, from an Anthony Elanga free kick, which was finally allowed to stand after a six-minute VAR check for a potential offside.

Murillo’s determination was underlined by the fact that, despite needing a lift back to the dressing rooms on a buggy at half-time because of an ankle injury that left him — for a few minutes at least — unable to walk, he was able to complete the game. All 107 minutes of it.

Murillo on a buggy after getting injured (Alex Broadway/Getty Images)

Neco Williams and Ola Aina were defensively solid while offering attacking width and pace from the full-back positions. Elliot Anderson and Ibrahim Sangare were a combative, physical presence in midfield. Elanga’s electric pace was a constant threat down both sides, while Nico Dominguez’s versatility saw him play with energy and efficiency as the other wide man within Forest’s familiar 4-2-3-1 formation.

With Chris Wood leading the line with his usual brand of menace, it was exactly the formula for success that has carried Forest this far. They started the match well, scored early and built from there. While it was an agonising final few minutes, they even handled that with a degree of intelligence, running the clock down when they could.

Again, this was a win that was very much needed, but it was also one that perfectly encapsulated everything that has made them good under Nuno.

Afterwards, the manager paid his own tribute to Awoniyi, talking about how the striker’s smile is of the infectious variety, and about how much they are looking forward to welcoming him back into the fold next season.

The club hope Awoniyi will be well enough to attend the Chelsea game.

Nuno will want the rest of his players to also show up, in exactly the same way they did here.

Because if they do, Awoniyi surely won’t be the only person in Nottingham with a smile on their face.

(Top photo: Steve Bardens via Getty Images)

This news was originally published on this post .

Share on

email

Previous

trending_flat

Chelsea’s domestic dominance still won’t be considered enough until Europe is conquered, too

Sports

Next

trending_flat

Another West Ham defeat leaves fans with little optimism for next season: ‘It looks bleak’

Sports