Chris Wood continued his superb start to the season as Nottingham Forest beat West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday.
Forest came into the match as one of the league’s in-form sides, having won 16 points from their opening nine games while taking points off both Liverpool and Chelsea.
Wood’s form has been a key factor in the strong start, and it was the striker’s close-range header that gave the home side the lead at the City Ground.
West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui fielded three centre-backs in an effort to keep the New Zealand international quiet, but Wood was left completely unmarked to convert Alex Moreno’s cross from six yards out and take his season tally to eight.
The visitors struggled for much of the first half, and their task was made all the more difficult when Edson Alvarez was shown a second yellow card for scything down Anthony Elanga on the stroke of half-time.
West Ham improved after the break but Callum Hudson-Odoi doubled Forest’s lead when his cross sneaked past Lukasz Fabianski at the back post.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side looked happy to see out the result before Ola Aina rifled a shot into the top corner from the edge of the penalty arc to send the City Ground into raptures.
Things would have been worse for West Ham had Fabianksi not produced two spectacular late saves, and had the offside flag not ruled out Ryan Yates’ close-range finish.
Forest have now won three Premier League games in a row for the first time since May 1999.
The victory lifts Forest up to third in the table, one point above title contenders Arsenal and six behind leaders Liverpool.
Already under pressure, Lopetegui’s side drop one place to 14th with just 11 points after 10 games.
Swiss
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