Premier LeagueWest Ham United 3-2 Nottingham Forest
Sunday, 12th November 2023
by James Haley
The first chance of the game proved to be the first goal when Nicolas Dominguez's pass hit his teammate Ibrahim Sangare. Lucas Paqueta latched onto this mistake and smashed it into the bottom left corner from the edge of the box.
Forest replied to the early goal when full-back Harry Toffolo's cross found Taiwo Awoniyi in the box - but his powerful header was matched by a world-class save from Alphonse Areola.West Ham had a big chance to score when Mohamed Kudus galloped away from the Forest defence and set up Paqueta who was free just outside the box, but the touch was poor and Forest 'keeper Odysseas Vlachodimos easily saved his shot.
The visitors equalised on the stroke of half time when Kudus and Tomas Soucek got in the way of each other on the halfway line and Sangare slipped in Morgan Gibbs-White, whose shot was parried but only as far as Awoniyi who tapped in from close range.
The first three minutes of the second half was filled with chances, with the first one coming when some neat play from Jarrod Bowen resulted in a cross which Emerson couldn't get on the end of.
Then a Hammers corner resulted in a Forest counter as quick distribution from Vlachodimos and some good work from Anthony Elanga gave Awoniyi the chance to score. Firtunately for West Ham, the shot was dragged wide.
Forest went ahead for the first (and only) time in the game when Ola Aina's low cross found Elanga in the box; the former Manchester United man smashing it into the bottom right corner.
But 43 seconds later, the Irons equalised from a James Ward-Prowse corner as Bowen rose highest in the centre of the box and headed past the 'keeper to get West Ham back into the game.
Soucek then had a great chance to score when Aina's header intended for the 'keeper found the Czech in the box, but he was always stretching for the ball and the half-volley rattled the crossbar.
The Czech midfielder had another chance when an inviting Ward-Prowse free-kick found him in the box, but this time an excellent save from Vlachodimos denied Soucek from close range.
However the Irons finally scored the third goal with little more than a minute of normal time remaining and it was third time lucky for Tomas Soucek, as another brilliant Ward-Prowse set-piece delivery to the back post by was matched with a superb header into the bottom left corner.
Paqueta should have set up two goals towards the end of the game when Forest committed players forward and West Ham countered. But both times the decision-making was poor,. which is mosy unlike the Brazilian.
All in all, a thoroughly entertaining encounter that ended 3-2 to West Ham - with James Ward-Prowse's set-piece mastery being the difference between the two teams.
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Alphonse AreolaMagnificent save to deny Awoniyi in the first half and made a good save at the end from Divock Origi?EUR(TM)s shot.
Vladimir Coufal
Couldn't defend against Elanga and his crosses had no real aim to them.
Emerson Palmieri
Didn't play to his recent standards and both goals came from his side of defence.
Kurt Zouma
You could tell that it was his first game back as he looked a bit rusty but still played well all things considered.
Nayef Aguerd
Some great switches of play over to the right-hand side and defended well.
Edson Alvarez
Looked much better when playing in that out-and-out defensive midfield role.
James Ward-Prowse
So dangerous with his set-piece deliveries and that shows with his two assists which rescued the game for the Hammers.
Tomas Soucek
Invisible for the first half of the game but looked much better in the second half and ultimately scored the winner with a wonderful header.
Mohammed Kudus
Didn't provide much of an impact from the right and was very slow on the ball when West Ham needed to counter.
Lucas Paqueta
Great reactions for the first goal and dictated the game throughout. Could have been an eight if his decision making was better.
Jarrod Bowen
It's clear that centre forward isn't his best role but an excellent header to equalise and take his tally to eight in the Premier League.
Substitutes
Michail Antonio(Replaced Alvarez 79) Came on late and got into the right positions but didn't get the right service from Paqueta or Bowen.
Angelo Ogbonna
(Replaced Kudus 90+5) No comments.
Aaron Cresswell
(Replaced Paqueta 90+9) No comments.
Lukasz Fabianski
Did not play.
Thilo Kehrer
Did not play.
Konstantinos Mavropanos
Did not play.
Pablo Fornals
Did not play.
Said Benrahma
Did not play.
Danny Ings
Did not play.
Match Facts
West Ham United: Alphonse Areola, Vladimir Coufal, Emerson Palmieri, Kurt Zouma, Nayef Aguerd, Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse, Tomas Soucek, Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paqueta, Jarrod Bowen.Goals: Lucas Paqueta 3 Jarrod Bowen 65 Tomas Soucek 88 .
Booked: Vladimir Coufal 0 Mohammed Kudus 0 .
Sent off: None.
Nottingham Forest: Vlachodimos, Aina (Aurier 76), Niakhate, Murillo (Boly 76), Toffolo, Sangare (Origi 90), Mangala, Domínguez (Danilo 46), Gibbs-White, Awoniyi (Wood 76), Elanga.
Subs not used: Turner, Williams, Ayew, Yates .
Goals: Awoniyi (44), Elanga (63).
Booked: Niakhate, Elanga.
Sent off: None.
Referee: Michael Salisbury.
Attendance: 62,470.
Man of the Match: James Ward-Prowse.