Nottingham Forest 2 West Ham 0: Pressure piles on David Moyes as ten-man Hammers’ dreadful run continues
TAIWO AWONIYI and Callum Hudson-Odoi piled the pressure on under-fire West Ham boss David Moyes as they secured Forest’s first win of 2024.
The Nigerian striker struck with the last kick of the first half to turn the heat up on the beleaguered Scots boss.
And Hudson-Odoi finished the job five minutes into second-half stoppage time as the 10-man East Enders collapsed.
Moyes’ misery was completed when Kalvin Phillips continued his Hammers horror show when he was sent off for a second bookable offence midway through the second half.
It’s difficult to know who is having the worst nightmare at West Ham at the moment – Phillips or the man who signed him!
The high-profile signing from Manchester City had just been booked for a bit of Argy-bargy when he shoved over World Cup winner Nicolas Dominguez after the pair squabbled over a free-kick.
But the red mist hadn’t cleared from Phillips who then went in late on Morgan Gibbs-White and was promptly shown a second yellow, followed by red by referee Thomas Bramall.
Incredibly that card arrived a mere two minutes and 56 seconds after his first booking.
Having cost his new club goals against Bournemouth on his debut and Manchester United, Phillips dismissal left his teammates with a mountain to climb here.
And they never looked capable of scaling it at any point in a miserable afternoon.
Their unhappy fans headed for the exits again after Hudson-Odoi’s clincher apart from those who stayed to vent their anger.
Again a Moyes Out banner was held up by disgruntled fans.
Forest fans taunted the Hammers’ travelling support just before the break with chants of
“45 minutes, it’s time to go home,”
But the real dagger was plunged into their hearts by Awoniyi a few minutes later.
As time ticked down on a nervy first half the big Nigerian struck.
Hudson-Odoi laid the ball off to Tavares whose initial cross was headed out by Aguerd.
The ball fell to Dominguez who drilled the ball into Awoniyi’s feet and the big striker brilliantly rolled Aguerd before drilling the ball beyond Alphonse Areola.
It was no more than the home side deserved after dominating play.
In truth Areola had kept them level until then, sticking out his right boot to keep out Elanga’s early snapshot.
Then the Frenchman was in the right place to instinctively beat out Morgan Gibbs-White’s piledriver, before defying Awoniyi who looked set to round him before he stuck out a leg to deny him.
Moyes had made two changes to the side thrashed 6-0 by Arsenal last weekend.
Kalvin Phillips started for the first time since his debut against Bournemouth – and ended up wishing he hadn’t.
His day ended abruptly. Meanwhile, up front, Michail Antonio ended his three month injury lay-off, returning for the first time since he faced Forest in November.
However the big striker had to endure a frustrating return as Forest’s Brazilian defensive partnership of Felipe and Murillo shackled him brilliantly.
Never more so than with 30 minutes on the clock when Antonio bundled Neco Williams over on the touchline and cut in towards goal.
Murillo had spotted the danger and glided over and, as Antonio tried to sidestep him, the 21-year-old read his intention.
The youngster effortlessly blocked his shot before heading off with the ball.
The kid made it all look so easy and it won’t be long before the big guns are knocking on Forest’s door with big-money offers for the Brazilian.
After the break Forest piled forward, confidence soaring.
Hudson-Odoi flashed a header just over and Danilo sent a powerful volley straight at Areola.
Phillips was sent packing shortly afterwards and West Ham were lucky to escape a good penalty claim when Maxwell Cornet appeared to trod on Neco Williams foot to bring him down in the box.
However a VAR check backed up Bramall’s initial call of no pen.
Forest thought they had added a second when Danilo’s shot deflected over Areola but Ryan Yates was in an offside position and interfered with the keeper.
Forest wrapped up all three points deep into stoppage time when Williams’ low centre was missed by Elanga but fell to Hudson-Odoi who slammed the ball home for his third goal in three games.
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