Latest Nottingham Forest news from NottinghamshireLive as the national media deliver their verdict on the West Ham defeat
Steve Cooper, manager of Nottingham Forest, reacts during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Nottingham Forest at London Stadium
The national media have delivered their verdict on Nottingham Forest’s Premier League defeat at West Ham.
The Reds looked to be in a strong position after fighting back from 1-0 down to lead 2-1 in the second half against the Hammers, thanks to goals from Taiwo Awoniyi and Anthony Elanga. But West Ham hit back with two goals to win 3-2
Jarrod Bowen made it 2-2 moments after Elanga’s goal and Tomas Soucek scored a late winner for David Moyes’ side. Here is how the national media reported on the defeat at the London Stadium.
Just try telling that to England boss Gareth Southgate
West Ham looked out of ideas in the 63rd minute as Anthony Elanga completed Nottingham Forest’s comeback at the London Stadium with a cool finish.
For all of the progress made from last season’s relegation dogfight, David Moyes’ men still for the life of them cannot work out what to do when they have more of the ball.
But when their beloved counter attack style is not an option, they now at least have a man whose set piece delivery is second to none amongst the very best in world football.
They led, they trailed, they led again and then the music stopped on a bizarre win that West Ham needed. If Nottingham Forest can figure out how it happened, they ought to share it with the rest of the class.
By the end of this match, Steve Cooper looked and sounded utterly baffled by the manner in which his side had been spun through all three possible outcomes in the space of 25 mad minutes. He wasn’t alone.
The short answer there would be the set-piece deliveries of James Ward-Prowse, which took this game from 2-1 Forest to 3-2 West Ham with headed goals for Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek.
To establish Nottingham Forest as a Premier League club – and keep Steve Cooper, a manager beloved among its fans in situ – an improvement in away form is desperately required. A game lost from a winning position, albeit one held for just 43 seconds of play, was a severe blow to both objectives.
Even though they knew precisely what was coming, Forest’s failure to deal with James Ward-Prowse’s expert delivery from corners and Tomas Soucek’s aerial prowess cost them the point to which they had been clinging since Jarrod Bowen’s headed equaliser. That, too, arrived via Ward-Prowse’s boot. One win from seven, just four points away from the City Ground, and 15th place with Bournemouth improving fast, spells imminent danger.