Chris Wood scored a brilliant hat-trick as Nottingham Forest delivered a commanding 7-0 victory over Brighton at the City Ground on Saturday, reigniting their push for a Champions League spot next season.
Morgan Gibbs-White, Neco Williams, and Jota Silva also found the back of the net after an own goal by Lewis Dunk gave Forest an early lead in an extraordinary performance. The win comes as a response to their heavy 5-0 defeat to Bournemouth the previous week.
The victory lifts Forest to level on points with second-placed Arsenal and extends their cushion to seven points ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea. With English clubs performing strongly in European competitions, securing fifth place in the Premier League is now a likely route to Champions League qualification.
The two-time European Cup winners (1979 and 1980) have not played in Europe since 1996, but a run of 10 wins in their last 12 games has them well on course to end that 20-year drought.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler’s bold tactical choice to field five forwards backfired as Forest tore apart their defense with blistering pace and clinical finishing. Dunk’s own goal in the 12th minute gave Forest an early advantage, and on his 100th appearance for the club, Gibbs-White made it 2-0 with a powerful header from an Anthony Elanga corner.
Elanga was a constant threat down the right, setting up Wood for his 15th Premier League goal of the season—a personal best. After the break, Wood added two more, both from Elanga assists, and completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after being fouled in the box.
Wood’s three goals bring him closer to breaking Stan Collymore’s record of 24 goals for Forest in a single Premier League season.
Brighton’s day went from bad to worse as Williams added a sixth and Silva sealed the win in stoppage time after intercepting a poor pass from Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.
For Brighton, the heavy loss is a blow to their European ambitions, with Hurzeler’s side winning only two of their last 11 league matches.
AFP
