Nottingham Forest have made headlines by climbing to their highest league standing in 26 years, following a commanding 3-0 victory over 10-man West Ham at the City Ground.
The win featured goals from Chris Wood, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Ola Aina, effectively dismantling a beleaguered Hammers side that saw Edson Alvarez receive a red card, propelling Forest to third place in the Premier League table.
It’s a remarkable achievement for a club that last enjoyed such heights in August 1998, when they found themselves second after a 2-1 triumph over Southampton. Though relegation followed that season, the current squad appears to be on a different path, as they build towards something special under the guidance of Nuno Espirito Santo.
This victory marks their third consecutive win, and in a season characterized by unexpected twists, a top-six challenge is beginning to look plausible for the Tricky Trees.
Conversely, West Ham’s fortunes have taken a downturn; after a previous win against Manchester United, manager Julen Lopetegui faces scrutiny as his team struggles to find form.
In another match of the day, Ipswich Town were held to a 1-1 draw against Leicester City, as Jordan Ayew grabbed a stoppage-time equaliser to deny the Tractor Boys their first Premier League win this season.
Ipswich were on the verge of securing their first top-flight points since April 2002 thanks to Leif Davis, who volleyed them ahead. However, a red card for Kalvin Phillips with 15 minutes to play left them vulnerable, ultimately allowing Ayew to rescue a point for Leicester.
The frustrating draw leaves Kieran McKenna’s entertaining side with a recurring problem, having now dropped points from a winning position on five occasions in just ten matches.
Meanwhile, Southampton finally broke their winless streak by edging past Everton 1-0, courtesy of Adam Armstrong’s late strike in the 85th minute.
This much-needed victory propelled the Saints off the bottom of the table, a feat made possible in part by some exceptional saves from goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Despite Everton’s Beto finding the back of the net moments later, his effort was flagged offside following a thorough review, ensuring Russell Martin’s side celebrated a vital boost in their battle for Premier League survival.
