It was all or nothing for Nottingham Forest. Lose, and the fairytale ends. Draw, and the dream drifts into oblivion.
But win? Win, and the dream breathes.
Nottingham Forest did exactly what was needed to do. They walked into the London Stadium, stared down a wounded but recovering West Ham side, and clawed out a potential season-defining 2–1 victory.
A result that didn’t just earn three points – it kept their UEFA Champions League hopes alive, dragging the race to the very last matchweek.
Now, everything comes down to the final showdown against Chelsea – a straight shootout for a place among Europe’s elite.
Beauty Optional, Results Mandatory: Nottingham Forest Deliver When It Counts
For all the discipline and shape Nottingham Forest brought into this game, it was an error by the goalie that cracked the door open.
West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola committed a baffling blunder, gifting the ball straight to Morgan Gibbs-White inside the penalty area.
What followed was an ice-cold execution. Gibbs-White didn’t hesitate. A quick glance, a shot driven goalward, and Forest led.
But it wasn’t just a goal – it was a message. He picked up the no 9 shirt of Taiwo Awoniyi in tribute to the recovering Nigerian striker sidelined due to injury.
One goal down, West Ham tried to find rhythm with all of the possession they had. Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus tried, but the Forest remained thick at the back
The decisive moment arrived from a source few expected. A whipped cross from Anthony Elanga – another one of Forest’s quiet revelations this season – met the back of Nikola Milenković.
The Serbian defender, known more for his no-nonsense style at the back, scored an unintentional goal that nestled past Areola.
West Ham would halve the deficit with a beautiful reply from a stunning Jarrod Bowen goal, but it wasn’t enough.
Nottingham Forest shut the door, tightened the screws, and saw out the storm in 17 minutes of added time in the second half with the kind of steel that only truly hungry sides possess.
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Defying Expectation: Is There a Final Lap That Sums It Up?
Let’s not forget where this story started. A club once at risk of relegation is now toe-to-toe with England’s giants.
And it’s not luck – it’s earned. It’s built on Nuno Espírito Santo’s vision: a gritty, flexible Nottingham Forest side capable of morphing game to game, yet always faithful to the basics – energy, effort, execution.
Gibbs-White has stepped into leadership. Elanga has become an electric outlet. The midfield pairing has balanced industry with creativity.
Milenković and Murillo have marshalled with authority. And Chris Wood have been sensational.
This isn’t a one-off run. This is a team that has beaten expectations, week in, week out — and made believers out of doubters.
But the end is here, and there is just one more outing to crown their effort with hopefully a favourable result elsewhere.
The Final Chapter Awaits
Now it all comes down to a single game. Chelsea – stabilising, unpredictable, and still breathing in the Champions League race – visit the City Ground for a finale dripping with narrative.
Chelsea’s hunger for a top-five finish will make this a tense affair – one team chasing a long-awaited return to Europe’s biggest stage, the other seeking redemption after a promising season threatened to unravel.
For one, a manager’s future on the line; for the other, history within reach. It’s all on the line in the final game of the season.
Forest will need one last push. One more statement. The task is massive, but so is the belief in this team.
Because if there’s one thing Nottingham Forest have shown this season, it’s this: no one writes them off and walks away unburned.
The dream is alive. One game to go.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Pro Sports Images
Recording Date: 11.05.2025