Nottingham— Chris Wood led the charge with a sensational hat-trick as Nottingham Forest crushed Brighton 7-0 at the City Ground, solidifying their Champions League aspirations.
The commanding victory saw Morgan Gibbs-White, Neco Williams, and Jota Silva join the scoring spree, while an own goal by Brighton’s Lewis Dunk set the stage for the Forest onslaught.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s men now share points with second-placed Arsenal and maintain a seven-point gap over sixth-placed Chelsea, strengthening their European ambitions.
With English clubs performing well in Europe, finishing fifth in the league is likely to secure a Champions League spot this season.
Brighton’s daring attacking strategy under Fabian Hurzeler backfired spectacularly, leaving them vulnerable to Forest’s relentless offense. Dunk’s unfortunate own goal opened the floodgates, followed by a towering Gibbs-White header and Wood’s first goal, courtesy of a precise Anthony Elanga cross.
Wood completed his hat-trick in the second half, including a confidently struck penalty, bringing his season tally to 17 goals—just seven shy of Stan Collymore’s club record of 24 in a single Premier League season.
Neco Williams and Jota Silva added late goals, capping off a nightmare evening for Brighton, who remain ninth on the table.
Hurzeler faces mounting pressure, with only two wins in his last 11 league matches, as his side struggles to find form.
Forest’s emphatic win sends a strong message to their rivals, highlighting their intent to secure European football next season.
By Enoch Odesola| February 1,2025
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