West Ham fans displayed a ‘Moyes Out’ banner in the away end at the City Ground
Nottingham Forest climbed five points clear of the Premier League relegation zone and added to the pressure on West Ham United manager David Moyes with a deserved victory at the City Ground.
Taiwo Awoniyi gave the home side the lead just before half-time and Callum Hudson-Odoi made sure of the win in added time when he scored for the third consecutive game.
On-loan midfielder Kalvin Phillips was shown two yellow cards in three minutes midway through the second half as he had another game to forget for West Ham.
Forest move up to 15th while Moyes’ side’s failure to bounce back from the 6-0 defeat against Arsenal last Sunday means they stay eighth.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side went into the game on the back of six defeats in their last seven home matches but took advantage of the opportunity to face a West Ham side chastened by last weekend’s thrashing.
Striker Michail Antonio started for the first time since the middle of November but the Hammers struggled to create any clear-cut chances.
After Phillips’ dismissal, Forest pushed for a second goal and were denied what they thought was a penalty when Maxwel Cornet stood on the ankle of Neco Williams.
Referee Tom Bramall spared Alphonse Areola’s blushes in the 90th minute after he let Danilo’s powerful effort squirm over the line – but Ryan Yates was judged to be offside.
Moyes now a man under pressure
He might have steered the Hammers to a European trophy nine months ago and have them sitting a respectable eighth in the league but West Ham fans are not happy with Moyes.
The London Stadium was half empty at half-time last Sunday as Arsenal went into the break with a 4-0 lead – with two more goals still to come.
West Ham fans travelled to the City Ground hoping for a response but it was tame at best and a ‘Moyes Out’ banner could be seen from the away end.
Moyes was asked about the banner after the game and urged West Ham fans to reflect on how far the team has progressed in the past three years.
“I’m really disappointed that we didn’t win today and I’m really disappointed with a couple of results. But you mustn’t forget the good results, you mustn’t forget the wins even this season.
“We’re sitting in a strong position – last season we were sitting near the bottom. It was only three years ago that we were Nottingham Forest and fighting relegation. We’ve moved on a long way from there.”
“What more do you want?” is a question poised to discontented Hammers fans – but it is also true to say they have lost their last three games without scoring a single goal.
Lucas Paqueta’s absence is a significant blow for Moyes but Hammers fans will point to a squad that is stronger than most the club has had and say the Scotsman should be doing more with it.
The experienced manager will know the home game against Brentford is one he dare not lose.
Hudson-Odoi hits purple patch
Hudson-Odoi made his Chelsea debut in 2017 and was soon regarded as one of the Premier League’s most exciting prospects – with Bayern Munich’s interest in him proof of the potential he had shown.
A full England debut followed against Montenegro in March 2019 but an Achilles tendon injury the following month stalled his progress.
The 23-year-old has not been a fixture in the Forest side since his transfer in the summer but his goal against West Ham was his third in consecutive games to suggest the forward is enjoying life under new Forest manager Nuno.
Along with the powerful Awoniyi and gifted playmaker Gibbs-White, Forest will have a fine attacking trio that is the envy of the bottom half of the table if Hudson-Odoi maintains this kind of form.
Awoniyi was withdrawn with injury and if he is missing for any length of time, Forest will look to goals from the in-form Hudson-Odoi to ensure their top-flight status.
Taiwo Awoniyi has scored three goals in three games against West Ham
Player of the match
AwoniyiTaiwo Awoniyi
Nottingham Forest
Squad number9Player nameAwoniyi
Squad number22Player nameYates
Squad number14Player nameHudson-Odoi
Squad number10Player nameGibbs-White
Squad number40Player nameMurillo
Squad number27Player nameOrigi
Squad number7Player nameN Williams
Squad number21Player nameElanga
Squad number16Player nameDomÃnguez
Squad number18Player nameFelipe
Squad number28Player nameDanilo
Squad number32Player nameOmobamidele
Squad number26Player nameSels
Squad number3Player nameNuno Tavares
West Ham United
Squad number23Player nameAreola
Squad number14Player nameKudus
Squad number19Player nameÃlvarez
Squad number20Player nameBowen
Squad number7Player nameWard-Prowse
Squad number33Player nameEmerson
Squad number5Player nameCoufal
Squad number27Player nameAguerd
Squad number2Player nameJohnson
Squad number11Player namePhillips
Squad number9Player nameAntonio
Squad number17Player nameCornet
Squad number4Player nameZouma
Squad number18Player nameIngs
Squad number28Player nameSoucek
Line-ups
Nottm Forest
Formation 4-2-3-1
26Sels
7N Williams18Felipe40Santiago Costa dos Santos3Tavares
16DomÃnguez28Danilo
21Elanga10Gibbs-White14Hudson-Odoi
9Awoniyi
26Sels7N WilliamsBooked at 60mins18Felipe40Santiago Costa dos Santos3Tavares16DomÃnguezBooked at 68minsSubstituted forYatesat 86’minutes28Danilo21Elanga10Gibbs-WhiteBooked at 9minsSubstituted forOmobamideleat 90+3’minutes14Hudson-Odoi9AwoniyiBooked at 45minsSubstituted forOrigiat 67’minutesSubstitutes1Turner8Kouyaté15Toffolo19Niakhaté20Reyna22Yates27Origi32Omobamidele37Duarte Ribeiro
West Ham
Formation 4-2-3-1
23Areola
5Coufal4Zouma27Aguerd33Emerson
11Phillips19Ãlvarez
20Bowen7Ward-Prowse14Kudus
9Antonio
23Areola5CoufalBooked at 68minsSubstituted forJohnsonat 76’minutes4ZoumaBooked at 57minsSubstituted forIngsat 90+3’minutes27Aguerd33EmersonSubstituted forSoucekat 83’minutes11PhillipsBooked at 71mins19Ãlvarez20Bowen7Ward-Prowse14KudusBooked at 8mins9AntonioBooked at 36minsSubstituted forCornetat 75’minutesSubstitutes1Fabianski2Johnson3Cresswell15Mavropanos17Cornet18Ings21Ogbonna28Soucek45Mubama
Referee:Thomas Bramall
Attendance:29,490
Live Text
Match ends, Nottingham Forest 2, West Ham United 0.
Second Half ends, Nottingham Forest 2, West Ham United 0.
Goal! Nottingham Forest 2, West Ham United 0. Callum Hudson-Odoi (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Anthony Elanga.
Foul by Mohammed Kudus (West Ham United).
Ryan Yates (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Mohammed Kudus (West Ham United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Tomás Soucek.
Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Andrew Omobamidele replaces Morgan Gibbs-White.
Substitution, West Ham United. Danny Ings replaces Kurt Zouma.
Attempt missed. Anthony Elanga (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Callum Hudson-Odoi following a fast break.
Corner, West Ham United. Conceded by Danilo.
Offside, West Ham United. Mohammed Kudus is caught offside.
Nayef Aguerd (West Ham United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Divock Origi (Nottingham Forest).
Offside, Nottingham Forest. Ryan Yates is caught offside.
Attempt blocked. Danilo (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Ryan Yates replaces Nicolás DomÃnguez.
Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Tomás Soucek.
Attempt saved. Nayef Aguerd (West Ham United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Maxwel Cornet.
Substitution, West Ham United. Tomás Soucek replaces Emerson.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.