After winning 2-1 at West Ham on Sunday, going into the final game of the season Nottingham Forest will have a chance to secure Champions League qualification.
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Nuno Espirito Santo’s side put in a determined display at West Ham with Morgan Gibbs-White giving them the lead in the first half and Niko Milenkovic putting them 2-0 up. Jarrod Bowen’s stunning strike set up a nervous finale but Forest held on to set up an almighty clash with Chelsea next weekend.
Forest sit on 65 points, one point behind Chelsea, and a win at home could secure Champions League qualification. Of course, other results need to go their way with Newcastle, Aston Villa and Manchester City all still in the mix. But Forest have a chance. West Ham remain on 40 points after the defeat.
Forest deservedly set up epic final day
Even if they don’t qualify for the Champions League, the fact Forest have taken it down to the final day of the season and a home game against fellow UCL hopefuls Chelsea is fitting. For the way they’ve overachieved, defied the odds and dug deep all season long, Forest’s season deserved better than to peter away. Their gutsy win against West Ham (just their second in their last seven games) was deserved and summed up all that is good about the team Nuno Espirito Santo has created. They were dangerous from set pieces, pressed high in the right moments and were a real threat on the counter. They are limping towards the finish line with plenty of players carrying knocks, but they’ve hung in there admirably. Now it all comes down to one final home game in front of their superb fans. Forest can win and it still might not be enough to reach the Champions League but this final day scenario is the least they deserve for a truly remarkable season. Forest will sit in and frustrate possession-based Chelsea and then look to launch counters. On paper this is exactly the kind of team Forest would want to play against in this scenario. Bring on next Sunday down by the banks of the River Thames.
West Ham vs Nottingham Forest player ratings (via FotMob.com)
What’s next?
West Ham head to Ipswich Town on Sunday, May 25. Nottingham Forest host Chelsea in a huge game at the City Ground.
West Ham vs Nottingham Forest score: 1-2
Bowen 87'; Gibbs-White 11', Milenkovic 61'
West Ham vs Nottingham Forest live updates! — By Joe Prince-Wright
Sels denies Fullkrug!
What a header from Fullkrug from a corner as he belts it on goal but Sels pushes it away.
11 minutes of stoppage time!
After that lengthy stop when checking Forest’s second goal, it has just been announced there are 11 minutes stoppage time. Wow.
Bowen smashes home! — West Ham 1-2 Nottingham Forest
Game on? With just a few minutes to go a long ball into the box sees Bowen control Milenkovic’s header with a fine touch. His second touch is even better as he volleys home into the top corner. That is his 12th goal of the Premier League season, adding to his seven assists. Where would West Ham be without Bowen?
Sels denies Soler
Really good save from Matz Sels as he denies Carlos Soler. The Spaniard had plenty of time to line up his shot but Sels was equal to it and pushed it wide.
Elanga’s free kick flicks off Milenkovic and flies in — West Ham 0-2 Nottingham Forest
Anthony Elanga’s free kick is whipped in to a dangerous area and the ball flicks off Nikola Milenkovic and flies in. Forest double their lead. After a lengthy VAR check for a potential offside on Dominguez, the goal stands.
Paqueta, Soler, Alvarez on for West Ham
Cresswell, Ward-Prowse and Rodriguez are off with Paqueta, Alvarez and Soler on. West Ham are doing the pressing at the moment. Just over 30 minutes to go.
No subs at half time and Murillo stays on
Remarkably the Brazilian center back is back on the pitch and he’s fine to continue. No changes for either side.
Half time: West Ham 0-1 Nottingham Forest
So far, so good for Forest. Murillo went down with an injury just before the break and has been driven to the changing rooms on a cart. We probably won’t see him for the second half.
Forest hit the post!
Wood’s header from a corner hits the outside of the post. Forest are pushing hard for a second goal.
Poor mistake from Areola and Gibbs-White scores! — West Ham 0-1 Nottingham Forest
Areola with a poor pass straight to Morgan Gibbs-White and he accepts the gift and slots home. Forest handed a gift.
Gibbs-White denied by Areola!
Big chance for Forest now, as a long throw is flicked on and Morgan Gibbs-White is there but his volley is pushed away by Alphonse Areola. Great start to this game.
What a save from Sels!
Vladimir Coufal whips in a brilliant cross and Tomas Soucek powers a header towards the top corner but Matz Sels pulls off a superb save. Bright start from West Ham!
West Ham lineup
Areola; Todibo, Kilman, Cresswell; Coufal, Rodriguez, Ward-Prowse, Soucek, Wan-Bissaka; Bowen, Kudus
Nottingham Forest lineup
Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Dominguez, Gibbs-White, Elanga; Wood
West Ham team news, focus
OUT: Michail Antonio (MORE), Crysencio Summerville (hamstring)
Nottingham Forest team news, focus
OUT: Taiwo Awoniyi (abdominal surgery - MORE), Callum Hudson-Odoi (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Murillo (thigh), Eric da Silva Moreira (ankle)
West Ham vs Nottingham Forest prediction
Football isn’t always a simple game, but sometimes it is. Forest need this one, and all West Ham are obligated to do is show up. West Ham 0-2 Nottingham Forest.
West Ham vs Nottingham Forest preview
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side was a top-five side for 18 straight matchweeks, going all the way back to matchweek 15 on Dec. 7, until May 1 (matchweek 34). They were even in the top-three at the conclusion of 13 straight matchweeks but the Tricky Trees now sit 7th in the PL table, a point behind 5th-place Chelsea and 6th-place Aston Villa, third in line for the final place in next season’s Champions League. Still, Forest will be playing in Europe for the first time since the 1995-96 season after drawing Leicester 2-2 last weekend — an outcome that every since supporter would have believed an impossible one when the season kicked off in August.
West Ham, meanwhile, sit 15th in the table and have won just one of their last nine league games (1W-4D-4L). The win came last weekend away to Manchester United, less than 72 hours after the Red Devils finished off Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League semifinals and Ruben Amorim made six changes to the team as a result. Graham Potter’s side has just one win against sides currently in the top half of the table since the end of November (just six wins in that time, period) and is perhaps the most desperate to reach the finish line and embark on summer holidays.
How to watch West Ham vs Nottingham Forest live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 9:15 am ET ET Sunday (May 18)
Venue: London Stadium — London
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
