No Forest Double For Hammers
West Ham United remain without a home win since 8 November as their start to 2026 got worse on Tuesday night with a late 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest in Stratford.
Nuno Espírito Santo made four changes from the demoralising 3-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux just three days earlier, as Jean-Clair Todibo was fit enough to return to the starting line-up after a groin injury, while Tomáš Souček was given a rare start by the Portuguese. Lucas Paquetá missed the game against Wolves but was back in the side here, while new signing Valentín Castellanos was given his full debut after completing the transfer from Lazio on Monday. Max Kilman, Soungoutou Magassa, Freddie Potts all dropped to the bench. Pablo Felipe took his place amongst the substitutes once again, while Callum Wilson wasn’t involved in the matchday squad but youngsters Ezra Mayers, Mohamadou Kanté and George Earthy remained with Espírito Santo’s squad from Saturday’s trip to another of his former clubs.
This match was always going to have an edge to it, given the amount at stake for both teams but in contrast to the opening forty five minutes in the Black Country, the home side showed a vast improvement with Castellanos putting in a shift. He was perhaps unlucky to have a shot blocked by Elliot Anderson in the early exchanges.
Immediately after, Crysencio Summerville tried his luck but his effort was grabbed by visiting goalkeeper Matz Sels. The Dutchman had taken the shot on, following a throw-in from youngster Oliver Scarles.
Both teams could have opened the scoring early on but fortunately, home goalkeeper Alphonse Areola kept out Welsh defender Neco Williams, as he went close with curling shot.
The Hammers then got the crucial opening goal. Scarles pressurised Omari Hutchinson into conceding a corner with thirteen minutes gone. It was left to Summerville to take. Souček then flicked on and although he thought he’d got the final touch, the ball was instead diverted past Sels via the head of Murillo. No matter how it goes in, the ever-loyal fan base I’m sure would enjoy anything that goes their way at this current moment in time.
Having made the costly mistake, Murillo was determined to make up for it and produced a timely block as Souček shot towards goal minutes later.
The midfielder was involved in West Ham’s next move, as he crossed the ball into the area, where it was met by Castellanos but unfortunately, the debutant was unable to send his volley goalwards.
The Brazilian defender was everywhere as the first- half drew to a close and thwarted home captain Jarrod Bowen who looked clean through on goal.
The visitors wanted to go into the break on level terms and Callum Hudson-Odoi almost found what they were looking for. However, to the relief of the majority inside the stadium, his shot hit the crossbar on its way over the top.
After one minute of stoppage time was signalled, referee Tony Harrington blew the whistle for the break and having got the advantage, could the Irons turn over a new leaf and atone for the defeat in the West Midlands last time out by holding on here?
Well, they went in search of the goal that would surely kill the game off as a contest but when he had the chance, Bowen couldn’t take it, as he unfortunately took an extra touch and when he did shoot, unfortunately he missed the target.
Thankfully though, Nicolás Domínguez proceeded to emulate the Irons’ skipper and do likewise up the other end.
Shortly after, cheering could then be heard amongst the home fans again, as on fifty one minutes, Summerville found the back of the net with only his second goal since joining the club in the summer of 2024. However, the joy was short lived as the VAR officials intervened and the decision was reversed.
It might have been harsh on the Hammers but, the effort was ruled out after the ball had flicked up off the boot of Nikola Milenković before it was crossed into the path of Kyle Walker-Peters. Nevertheless, the scoreline remained unchanged.
That would have made the evening even more comfortable for the hosts but just four minutes later the inevitable happened and Sean Dyche’s men were back on level terms. Domínguez swung a boot at Anderson’s corner and the ball went over the head of Walker-Peters and past Areola.
Espírito Santo decided to make a double substitution on sixty three minutes, as both Scarles and Paquetá were replaced by Mayers and Felipe.
The two sides were desperate to cement all three points, meaning there was action at both ends of the pitch by this point. Areola had to be alert to keep out both Murillo and Domínguez, while the East Londoners had four chances in quick succession but Felipe, along with Walker-Peters, Castellanos and Bowen all failed to make the most of the opportunities that were presented to them.
The Irons made their third and final substitution of the evening with ten minutes of normal time to play as Potts entered the fray for Mateus Fernandes.
A further seven minutes had passed before West Ham suffered another blow when VAR got involved again. On this occasion, Areola was considered to have fouled Morgan Gibbs-White and a penalty was given. The defender took it himself and the Frenchman was sent the wrong way, meaning it was another defeat on what was billed as a critical night for all connected with the East Londoners.
Having just conceded for a second time, Espírito Santo’s side still had time to find an equaliser, as the fourth official signalled that seven more minutes would be played. Unfortunately though, Forest took the points, meaning they have strengthened their position in the table.
The pressure is slightly off for the Irons now, as they are able to take a break from the Premier League for ten days. Having said that though, they will still want to win their Emirates FA Cup tie here on Sunday afternoon against Sky Bet Championship outfit Queens Park Rangers.
One player that won’t be involved in Sunday’s tie is striker Callum Marshall as it was confirmed earlier that the Northern Irish striker will now spend the remainder of the current campaign on loan with German club VfL Bochum 1848.