Sunday’s early kick-off sees Nottingham Forest host West Ham in a bottom of the table clash after both sides lost their opening fixtures last weekend. Forest are looking the bounce back from a demoralising 2-0 defeat to Newcastle in which the final scoreline flattered Steve Cooper’s side.
An influx of new signings means the manager has not yet settled on the best line-up to keep Forest in the top-flight and the newly-promoted side will need all the support they can get from their home fans if they want to upset West Ham today.
The Hammers, meanwhile, drew the short straw and landed with the Premier League champions for their first game of the season. Manchester City were just too good for David Moyes’ side and with Erling Haaland on point in front of goal West Ham were swept aside. They won’t be too disheartened by that defeat though and will see today’s game as a great opportunity to kick start their season with a victory over their newly promoted opponents.
Follow all the action as Nottingham Forest host West Ham Utd in the Premier League:
Nottingham Forest vs West Ham
Forest playing first home Premier League game since 1999
Nottingham Forest XI: Henderson; Worrall, Niakhate, McKenna; Williams, O’Brien, Mangala, Toffolo, Lingard; Awoniyi, Johnson
West Ham XI: Fabianski; Coufal, Johnson, Zouma, Cresswell; Rice, Soucek; Fornals, Benrahma, Bowen; Antonio
Both teams lost opening day fixtures
Nottingham Forest FC 0 - 0 West Ham United FC
Nottingham Forest 0-0 West Ham
35 mins: Forest thread the ball in between Ben Johnson and Vladimir Coufal as Taiwo Awoniyi darts in between the two defenders. He whips over a cross but the flag is up as he just strays offside.
At the other end of the pitch Said Benrahma twists and turns his away into the box before moving to the outside of Joe Worrall and dinking the ball over to Jarrod Bowen.
Bowen tries to control it but the ball strikes his knee, bounces loose and Forest boot it clear.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 West Ham
32 mins: Pablo Fornals chips the ball into the Forest box for Soucek who’s made another piercing run. O’Brien shields the ball and is hit from behind by the West Ham midfielder who pushes him into Henderson.
The ball comes loose and Soucek attempts to recover it but Forest clear the lines before the whistle goes for that foul on O’Brien.