Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham United: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Coral’s post-match review of Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday, 31 August 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match

West Ham United delivered a commanding performance to secure a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. The result was somewhat surprising given Forest's recent form, which included a win and a draw in their last two matches. However, West Ham's clinical finishing, particularly in the latter stages of the game, proved too much for the home side. Jarrod Bowen's late goal and Callum Wilson's injury-time strike sealed the win, extending West Ham's run of form after a previous loss to Chelsea.

For Nottingham Forest, this defeat was a stark contrast to their recent results, which had shown promise with a win against Brentford and a draw at Crystal Palace. The team struggled to convert their possession into meaningful chances, and the late goals from West Ham left them with no time to respond. This loss ends a positive run for Forest and raises questions about their defensive resilience, especially as they prepare for a challenging fixture against Arsenal.

The statistics from the match reveal a surprising disparity between possession and the final scoreline. Nottingham Forest enjoyed 58% of the ball, yet they were unable to translate this dominance into goals, finishing the game with zero shots on target. West Ham, on the other hand, made the most of their 42% possession, scoring three times, including a penalty and an injury-time goal. The successful dribbles percentage was closely contested, with West Ham edging it at 42% compared to Forest's 40%, indicating a competitive midfield battle despite the scoreline.

The key moments of the match were dominated by West Ham's late surge. Jarrod Bowen's goal in the 84th minute broke the deadlock and shifted the momentum decisively in West Ham's favor. This was followed by a penalty converted by Lucas Paquetá in the 88th minute, which all but sealed the victory. The final nail in the coffin came in injury time when Callum Wilson scored, ensuring a comprehensive win for the visitors. These late goals were crucial, as they came after a series of substitutions by both teams, with Forest making four changes in an attempt to alter the course of the game.

Nottingham Forest's substitutions, including James McAtee at the 58th minute and Igor Jesus Maciel da Cruz at the 73rd, were unable to change the tide of the match. The late double substitution of Omari Giraud-Hutchinson and Arnaud Kalimuendo Muinga in the 89th minute was a last-ditch effort to salvage something from the game, but it was too little too late. West Ham's substitutions, particularly Callum Wilson's introduction in the 64th minute, proved more impactful, as he scored the final goal of the match.

Nottingham Forest lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Matz Sels in goal and a back four of Ola Aina, Nikola Milenković, Murillo, and Neco Williams. The midfield was anchored by Ibrahim Sangaré and Elliot Anderson, with Dan Ndoye, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Callum Hudson-Odoi supporting striker Chris Wood. The lineup was largely as expected, with no major surprises. However, the substitutions made by manager Nuno Espírito Santo, particularly the late changes, did not have the desired impact, as the team struggled to create meaningful chances.

West Ham United opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Mads Hermansen between the posts and a defence consisting of Kyle Walker-Peters, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Maximilian Kilman, and El Hadji Malick Diouf. The midfield duo of Tomas Soucek and James Ward-Prowse provided stability, while Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paquetá, and Mateus Fernandes supported striker Niclas Füllkrug. The lineup was well-balanced, and the impact of the substitutions, particularly Callum Wilson's introduction, was significant. Bowen's performance was standout, as he scored the crucial opening goal.

Jarrod Bowen is Coral’s Man of the Match, and his performance justified this accolade. Scoring the opening goal in the 84th minute, Bowen's strike was pivotal in shifting the momentum of the game. He also created one big chance and made two key passes, demonstrating his influence on the match. His contribution was crucial in securing the victory for West Ham United.

Recent Premier League Matches:

• Loss: 0-3 vs West Ham United (H)

• Draw: 1-1 vs Crystal Palace (A)

• Win: 3-1 vs Brentford (H)

Recent Premier League Matches:

• Win: 3-0 vs Nottingham Forest (A)

• Loss: 1-5 vs Chelsea (H)

• Loss: 0-3 vs Sunderland (A)

Sitting in 10th place with 4 points, Nottingham Forest face a tough challenge next as they take on Arsenal, who are in 3rd with 6 points, on September 13, 2025 at 11:30. This recent defeat might prompt manager Nuno Espírito Santo to focus on defensive solidity and converting possession into goals as they prepare for this crucial match.

With 3 points and positioned 16th in the league, West Ham United will look to build on this victory when they face Tottenham Hotspur, who are in 4th with 6.0 points, on September 13, 2025 at 16:30. The confidence gained from this win could be key as they aim to climb the table and improve their recent form.

Game Week 4

• Arsenal V Nottingham Forest

• Bournemouth V Brighton

• Newcastle V Wolves

• Everton V Aston Villa

• Crystal Palace V Sunderland

• Fulham V Leeds United

• West Ham V Tottenham

• Brentford V Chelsea

• Burnley V Liverpool

• Man City V Man United

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