In a stunning turnaround, Nottingham Forest secured their biggest league victory in over three decades, defeating Brighton 7-0 at the City Ground. The result not only marked the club’s most dominant Premier League win since 1991, but it also propelled them to level on points with Arsenal, sparking renewed optimism among fans for a potential Champions League berth.
The win comes just days after a humbling 5-0 loss to Bournemouth, proving Forest’s resilience and their determination to stay competitive at the top of the Premier League.
The match saw a dominant performance from Chris Wood, who netted a hat trick to bring his season total to 17 goals, already making the current campaign his most prolific. Wood’s first goal came from a powerful header off a corner by Anthony Elanga, and he added two more—one from close range and the other from the penalty spot. His incredible form has given Forest fans hope of a 20-goal season, which would be a first for the forward in the Premier League.
Elanga, who was instrumental in creating opportunities for Wood, also made history with a hat-trick of assists. The Swedish winger joined Bryan Roy as only the second Forest player to record three assists in a Premier League game. With 17 assists since last season, Elanga’s performance ranks him among the league’s top providers, trailing only Mohamed Salah, Bukayo Saka, and Ollie Watkins. His creativity has been pivotal in Forest’s attacking resurgence.
The match started with an own goal from Brighton’s Lewis Dunk, who turned a cross from Morgan Gibbs-White into his own net in the 12th minute. Forest’s dominance continued as they capitalized on Brighton’s defensive mistakes. Brighton, who were chasing European football themselves, were unable to recover after falling behind, and the visitors’ lackluster performance was further compounded by injuries throughout the match.
Late goals from Neco Williams and Jota Silva completed the rout, with Forest finishing the match in complete control. The defeat marked Brighton’s heaviest league loss since 1958, and while injuries played a role, it was clear that Forest’s clinical performance left little room for excuses. The result also set a record for the largest margin of victory in the Premier League after a team had suffered a five-goal loss in the previous match, a feat only previously achieved by Sheffield Wednesday in 1997.
With the win, Nottingham Forest has now firmly placed themselves in the race for a Champions League spot. As they look ahead to the remaining 14 matches, their growing momentum and newfound confidence could make them one of the most formidable sides in the league during the second half of the season.
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