Seven fingers to a fist became the signature gesture among Nottingham Forest fans at the City Ground.
It was a day of unbridled joy and history in the making, and even owner Marinakis couldn’t hide his delight as he watched his team dismantle the Seagulls.
The crushing 5-0 defeat to Bournemouth now feels like a distant memory.
Against Brighton, Nottingham Forest showed immense resilience, erasing that humiliation with seven unanswered goals in a statement performance.
Forest had just 37% possession to Brighton’s 63%. Yet, they created more big chances in the match with that being seven to Brighton’s sole big chance. Efficiency trumped control once again.
The Tricky Trees have mastered quick turnovers to launch lethal counters while also excelling at set pieces.
Beyond that, they frequently force costly errors high up the pitch, turning them into crucial goals. This all translates into vital points due to their defensive solidity.
Once again all of this attribute was witnessed in their latest encounter against a supposed fearsome foe.
Historic Record-Breaking Day at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground
This wasn’t just a win for the Tricky Trees – it was a night of records being equalled and shattered.
Perhaps that humiliating defeat was simply the catalyst for unleashing a master class of performance.
Nottingham Forest have now recorded their highest victory in a match since their 7-0 win against Chelsea in 1991. In doing so they also handed Brighton their heaviest defeat in the Premier League.
It wasn’t just a day of records for the club alone, Chris Wood also became the first player to score a hat trick for Nottingham Forest since the Premier League was established and Anthony Elanga also became the first Nottingham player to make a hat trick of assists.
These historical feats just push them further and closer to fulfilling the much-coveted European spot finish which looks more likely than ever before.
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Nottingham Forest’s Exceptionals Amidst an Incredible Team Performance
While the team as a whole was exceptional, a few standout performances deserve special recognition.
Matz Sels has been a standout goalkeeper all season, but against Brighton, he was nothing short of extraordinary, making reflex saves that seemed almost impossible.
He recorded six saves, his third-highest this season, and now sits second on the list for most saves, all while keeping 10 clean sheets.
He has delivered so many outstanding performances in a way that you can’t remember this Nottingham Forest run of form without remembering him and that stellar performance continued against Brighton.
Then there is Morgan Gibbs-White, the architect of the counter-attacking football that Nottingham Forest is so good at.
The way he carried the ball each time he had it and distributed it to the pacey players was nothing short of exceptional.
While he only has a goal to show for it, he is the glue that connects the defensive fortitude to the attacking threat at Forest.
He had the most passes completed with 34, most passes into the final third with six and a passing completion percentage of 85%
Elanga was also a standout and certainly has been a surprise for many this season, with 3 goals and 8 assists to his name.
What’s even more intriguing is the partnership he has forged with Wood, assisting 10 of his goals this season.
Elanga has been the lightning-fast player that has made their counter-attacks so lethal and deadly.
Notably, two of his three assists in this match were the result of this dynamic, setting up the striker twice.
More importantly, the former Manchester United player made history as the first Forest player to record a hat-trick of assists in a Premier League match.
Then there’s the Wood amidst the Tricky Trees, the branch that keeps bearing fruit – Chris Wood. Once again, he proved lethal, scoring 3 of the 7 goals to spearhead his side to victory.
In doing so, he now stands joint third on the top scorer table with 17 goals, the highest tally he has ever achieved. With 14 games remaining, he’s poised to add more.
There’s just one word to describe what he’s been for Nottingham Forest, and once again, he was nothing short of ‘phenomenal’ in this game.
His positioning and finishing at goal were all too reminiscent of a predator stalking its prey, precise and deadly with every movement.
Admirable Notice
Who would have thought Nottingham Forest’s spending spree would yield such success?
The Tricky Trees are so well-stocked now that Nuno Espírito Santo has a reliable replacement for nearly every starter.
This depth was once again evident in the substitutions made by Nuno, showcasing the strength and versatility of his squad.
Individually, the players might not stand out on paper, but the gap in talent between the starting XI and the bench is minimal.
This seamless interchange between the two groups has been made possible thanks to Espírito Santo’s management.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Sports Press Photo
Recording Date: 01.02.2025