Nottingham Forest sent ‘must-win’ message ahead of crunch West Ham showdown

Latest Nottingham Forest news as Nuno Espirito Santo’s Reds prepare to face West Ham United at the City Ground

Nottingham Forest’s matchup with West Ham United on Saturday has been deemed a “must-win” in order to achieve their first Premier League triumph of 2024.

The 3-2 loss to Newcastle United at home last weekend left head coach Nuno Espirito Santo with both optimism and cause for concern. Under the Portuguese, the Reds have no trouble scoring goals, but stopping them from scoring is still a challenge.

Forest, which is ranked 16th in the league, is only two points above the relegation zone. This dangerous position is made worse by the possibility of losing points due to financial rule violations. It is anticipated that Nuno’s team will face a formidable opponent in the Hammers, who come to the City Ground fresh off a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Arsenal.

“Winning is essential. We’re already counting on other teams to lose because of the looming points penalties, Max Scott stated this week on NottinghamshireLive’s Garibaldi Red podcast.

West Ham’s 6-0 thumping is a fortunate development, as that’s a formidable record to overcome. I genuinely hope that they have shed some of their confidence over the next two weeks so that we can capitalize on it.

Sarah Clapson went on, “There’s a big game this. It is essential that Forest prevails.
“It’s crucial, but I don’t think we should label it a must-win. In 2024, Forest has not yet won a Premier League match. Although they haven’t played in many league games this season, they still need to make up for it.

“A victory would be very encouraging. Even after one win, the standings might alter significantly. Forest would have something to work with and grow upon before a significant stretch of games. Returning to the City Ground as a fortress, as it was in the previous season, is crucial.

Ola Aina, Ibrahim Sangare, and Willy Boly might be back in the mix for the Reds on Saturday. After the Africa Cup of Nations final last weekend, the three will re-join the team this week, though it’s unclear if they’ll play against the Hammers.

“It would be fantastic if Boly could start, but he wasn’t even included in the team for the final. It would also be fantastic to see Sangare return to the mix, since it’s long overdue for him to have a run of games without an injury or pointless suspensions. He has given us sights. He has to take the initiative for us. Let’s have you, big-time player, big-name player, Champions League player. See what you are capable of.