Nottingham Forest secured a vital 2-1 victory over West Ham United in a tense Premier League relegation battle at London Stadium on January 6, 2026. Morgan Gibbs-White's 89th-minute penalty proved decisive after Nicolas Dominguez had equalized earlier in the second half. The result leaves West Ham seven points from safety, extending their winless run to 10 games.
In a match charged with stakes for both sides, West Ham took the lead in the 13th minute through an unfortunate own goal by Nottingham Forest defender Murillo. Crysencio Summerville's corner from the left was flicked on by Tomas Soucek, and Murillo headed it into his own net from close range.
The Hammers thought they had doubled their advantage shortly after halftime when Summerville struck home, but VAR ruled out the goal due to new signing Valentin 'Taty' Castellanos being offside in the buildup. This decision shifted momentum, as Forest equalized just minutes later. Elliot Anderson's inswinging corner was met by Dominguez, whose looping header found the far corner in the 55th minute.
West Ham pushed for a winner but struggled to create clear chances, with Jarrod Bowen firing over early in the second half and Castellanos missing a volley. Forest, managed by Sean Dyche, showed resilience after four straight losses. The turning point came in the 89th minute when West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola collided with Gibbs-White while attempting to punch clear another corner, earning a VAR-awarded penalty. Gibbs-White calmly slotted it down the middle, securing Forest's first win in five matches.
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo, facing his former club, lamented the fine margins: "We did enough good things to win the match today." He questioned the penalty, adding, "It happens so many times... you get confused about the rules." Dyche praised his team's mentality: "To go 1-0 down and stay calm and deliver a second half that can win the game is very pleasing."
Midfielder Soucek called the penalty a "joke," emphasizing the need for wins: "We are in a really bad position." Gibbs-White, who took a blow to the face, said, "I got whacked... but we fought till the end."
The defeat piles pressure on Nuno, who has just two wins in 16 games since replacing Graham Potter. Forest now hold a seven-point buffer over the relegation zone, breathing space for Dyche's side ahead of their FA Cup tie at Wrexham.
