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Nottingham Forest 7-0 Brighton: Wood hat trick leads rout

High-flying Nottingham Forest hammered Brighton 7-0 at the City Ground on Saturday to respond brilliantly to their 5-0 defeat at Bournemouth last weekend.

It is Forest’s biggest-ever Premier League win in their history. And they could have scored more.

MORE – Watch full replay

Forest were clinical as they scored seven goals from nine shots on target, as they were 3-0 up at half time through a Lewis Dunk own goal, Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood. Their main striker then scored a double to complete his hat trick in the second half to move on to 17 goals for the season, while Neco Williams added a sixth late on and then Jota Silva scored a seventh.

Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton had some big chances throughout but they hit the woodwork and Matz Sels was unbeatable as the Seagulls made some awful defensive errors.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s Forest have 47 points, while Brighton remain on 34 points.


Angry Forest show incredible response

Nuno Espirito Santo demanded more from his Forest players after they collapsed late on at Bournemouth last weekend to lose 5-0. There could have been a danger of Forest’s amazing season coming off the rails and fizzling out after that shock loss but their ruthless, hungry display against Brighton showed that isn’t going to happen as Forest were the best version of themselves. Clinical. Angry. Aggressive. They played to their strengths and bullied Brighton in a record-breaking win. Forest’s fans were chanting ‘we want eight!’ and ‘Nuno, gives us a wave!’ towards the end of this game as the feel-good factor continues at the City Ground. This win gets them back on track ahead of two huge clashes coming up against Newcastle and Arsenal at the end of February. If Forest get through those two games with a couple of big wins, they’re going to be Liverpool’s biggest threat in the title race down the stretch. More realistically, their European dreams will be on track. This response showed Forest’s European hopes are legit and if they do qualify for the Champions League we will look back at this win as the catalyst for them kicking on again. Even though they’re having an incredible season it is so tight just below them in the table. Between now and the end of the season Forest will need to remember this game and replicate the hunger they showed.

Extended HLs: Nottingham Forest v. Brighton MWK 24
Relive Nottingham Forest's seven-goal thriller against Brighton at the City Ground in Matchweek 24.

Nottingham Forest vs Brighton player ratings (via FotMob.com)

Nottingham Forest vs Brighton player ratings

What’s next?

Forest head to Exeter City on Tuesday, February 11 in the FA Cup and then travel to Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday, February 15. Brighton host Chelsea in the FA Cup on Saturday, February 8 and then again in the league on Friday, February 14.


Nottingham Forest vs Brighton score: 7-0

Dunk OG 12', Gibbs-White 25', Wood 32', 64', 70', Williams 89', Silva 91'

Nottingham Forest vs Brighton live updates! — By Joe Prince-Wright

Jota finishes! — Nottingham Forest 7-0 Brighton

Another one! Great finish from Jota Silva the substitute.

Silva blasts Forest 7-0 ahead of Brighton
It's a day to remember at the City Ground as Jota Silva slots home Nottingham Forest's seventh goal against Brighton.

Williams hammers home — Nottingham Forest 6-0 Brighton

Substitute Awoniyi causes chaos and Sangare is fouled, but the ball drops to Williams who slams home into the roof of the net.

Williams makes it 6-0 for Forest over Brighton
Absolute scenes at the City Ground as Neco Williams slots home Nottingham Forest's sixth goal against Brighton.

Penalty to Forest... and Wood completes his hat trick — Nottingham Forest 5-0 Brighton

Tariq Lamptey holds on to Gibbs-White from a corner and a penalty kick is given. That is so obviously a foul. What is Lamptey doing!? Wood steps up and sends Verbruggen the wrong way to seal his hat trick and put Forest 5-0 up.

Wood completes hat-trick to make it 5-0 for Forest
The rout is on as Chris Wood converts Nottingham Forest's penalty to push the score to 5-0 against Brighton at the City Ground.

Elanga sets up Wood to tap home — Nottingham Forest 4-0 Brighton

Elanga with superb wing-play to drive past Dunk and he crosses for Wood to tap home. Textbook Forest. Ruthless.

Wood taps in Forest's fourth against Brighton
Anthony Elanga picks up his third assist of the match as he finds Chris Wood in front of goal for a simple finish to make it 4-0 over Brighton at the City Ground.

Three subs for Brighton at half time

Well, Hurzeler obviously didn’t like what he saw in the first half. Jack Hinshelwood, Kaoru Mitoma and Joao Pedro are off at half time with Matt O’Riley, Diego Gomez and Simon Adingra on. What a deep squad the Seagulls have by the way. They’ve started well in the second half.

Welbeck hits the underside of the bar!

Even though they’re 3-0 down, Brighton have created chances in this first half. Welbeck curls a beauty towards the top corner but after a slight touch from Sels the ball hits the underside of the bar and comes back out. So close for the Seagulls. Great save from Sels.

Wood heads home! — Nottingham Forest 3-0 Brighton

Elanga’s cross to Wood at the far post is perfect and the big striker nods home again.

Wood heads Forest 3-0 in front of Brighton
Anthony Elanga's cross finds Chris Wood, who makes it 3-0 for Nottingham Forest against Brighton at the City Ground.

Williams hits the post

Forest are flying and Williams’ low shot clips the post and goes out.

Minteh denied by Sels!

Hang on! Brighton are in and Minteh is clean through but Sels makes a great stop down low. Almost an instant response from the Seagulls.

Gibbs-White heads home! — Nottingham Forest 2-0 Brighton

After Chris Wood almost got in Brighton defended well but conceded a corner. From that corner Gibbs-White flicks home superbly at the near post to double Forest’s lead. Clinical from the hosts and the City Ground is rocking!

Gibbs-White heads Forest 2-0 ahead of Brighton
Nottingham Forest double their advantage as Anthony Elanga's corner finds Morgan Gibbs-White inside the box to make it 2-0 against Brighton at the City Ground.

Gibbs-White’s cross flicks off Dunk and goes in! — Nottingham Forest 1-0 Brighton

Danilo plays in Gibbs-White on the right and his cross towards Wood is flicked towards his own goal by Lewis Dunk and the ball flies into the far corner. Not much the Brighton skipper could do about that and once again Forest have scored early at home.

Dunk's own goal gifts Forest lead over Brighton
Morgan Gibbs-White's cross takes a deflection off Lewis Dunk and goes in to give Nottingham Forest an early 1-0 lead over Brighton at the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest lineup

Sels; Milenkovic, Murillo, Morato; Aina, Anderson, Danilo, Williams; Gibbs-White; Elanga, Wood

Brighton lineup

Verburggen; Veltman, van Hecke, Dunk, Lamptey; Hinshelwood; Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma; Joao Pedro, Welbeck


Nottingham Forest team news, focus

OUT: Callum Hudson-Odoi (hip) | QUESTIONABLE: Ibrahim Sangare (thigh)

Brighton team news, focus

OUT: Mats Wieffer (knock), Igor Julio (hamstring, Jason Steele (shoulder), James Milner (thigh), Ferdi Kadioglu (toe) | QUESTIONABLE: Evan Ferguson (ankle), Pervis Estupinan (undisclosed)

Nottingham Forest vs Brighton prediction

Forest have been one of the stingiest teams in the country. Brighton have attackers but need better playmaking from the midfield to produce better danger. At home, coming off a loss, it feels like Forest will do whatever it takes to avoid a slow start. Barring an early Brighton goal, this might be straight-forward. Nottingham Forest 2-0 Brighton.

Nottingham Forest vs Brighton preview

Forest had taken 22 of 24 points before getting slammed 5-0 by Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium in Week 23. The Tricky Trees still live in the top four of the Premier League table, in third with 44 points.

Brighton are coming off the end of a six-game unbeaten run in league play after falling 1-0 at home to Everton. The Seagulls are ninth on the Premier League table with 34 points, and another hot streak could boost them right back into the European qualification conversation.

How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Brighton live, stream link and start time

Kick off time: 7:30am ET Saturday

Venue: City Ground — Nottingham

TV Channel: USA Network

Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com