KALVIN CRIME
Boss is feeling the pressure as Phillips has off day
NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO heaved a sigh of relief at a job well done – leaving David Moyes to fear for his.
The Portuguese celebrated with a smile and an embrace for his backroom staff as Forest landed their first win in six to lift the storm clouds that had started to encircle the City Ground.
Goals in stoppage time at the end of each half were sufficient to see off a limp show from the Hammers.
Chants of “Sacked in the morning” came from the visiting enclosure towards the end and a flag bearing the words: “Moyes Out”, was unfurled at the final whistle.
To rub salt into already open wounds, the under-pressure Eastenders boss also had to stomach seeing his big January signing Kalvin Phillips dismissed for two bookable offences inside three minutes.
However, even with the England international on the pitch, Forest thoroughly deserved all the points.
Moyes must have been hoping for a reaction following the six-goal drubbing at the London Stadium last week.
But his players produced nothing of any note going forward, looked illorganised in midfield and were opened up time and again at the back.
Only some poor finishing and a string of saves from their man-of-thematch Alphonse Areola in goal prevented them from suffering a hiding.
The game was somehow goalless heading into the break – West Ham’s keeper had produced three interventions to keep his side level until Awoniyi found a way through.
Areola first moved his feet in the nick of time after Anthony Elanga had connected sweetly on the half-volley from Nuno Tavares’ cross.
Then he blocked Morgan Gibbswhite’s snap-shot. And to finish off a decent 45 minutes the former Paris Saint-germain keeper stopped Awoniyi (right) in his tracks after the big striker tried to round him after charging clean through.
But he had no answer to the moment that shaped the match in stoppage time. A centre from the left was headed to the edge of the area. Nicolas Dominguez controlled and then fed Forest’s big No.9.
He controlled with his right foot, held off his marker and fired into the bottom corner with his left.
West Ham tried to rouse themselves but despite a few close shaves Forest held firm and Callum Hudson-odoi finished off matters.