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Football

Nottingham Forest

vs West Ham United. Premier League.

2: 00pm, Sunday 31st August 2025.

The City Ground Attendance: Attendance30, 215.

Report and free match highlights from the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and West Ham at the City Ground; three goals in seven minutes from Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta and Callum Wilson earned Graham Potter's side a brilliant first win of the season

Digital football journalist

@Dan Long__

Sunday 31 August 2025 17: 26, UK Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player West Ham stunned Nottingham Forest with three goals in seven minutes to win 3-0 at the City Ground and collect their first Premier League win of the season on Super Sunday. Graham Potter's side had lost both games and shipped eight goals before their trip to the City Ground, but looked to be heading for their first point after a stellar defensive display kept Forest at bay. But it got so much better in the late stages, as captain Jarrod Bowen put them ahead after 84 minutes, Lucas Paqueta rolled home a penalty after 88 and Callum Wilson scored his first goal for the club after 91. It was the second latest into a match that a team have gone 1-0 up in a Premier League game and ended up winning by 3+ goals (84th minute), after Manchester United vs Everton in October 2002 (86th minute). Notably, Paqueta - who has been linked with a move to Aston Villa before Deadline Day - kissed the West Ham badge as he celebrated. Speaking to Sky Sports about Paqueta's future afterwards, Hammers boss Potter said: "You have to deal with a lot of nonsense in this league and that's the case for every team, especially at this time of the year, but we're looking forward to the window shutting and everything going away a little bit. Asked if he could see the Brazilian staying at the club beyond Deadline Day, he added: "Yes, absolutely. "

How N Forest and West Ham lined up

Match stats

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Wary of the pressure that two defeats from the opening two had brought, Potter switched from a back five to a back four at the City Ground and, barring a couple of flashes from Dan Ndoye, it helped to keep Forest at bay. In fact, the hosts were unable to register a shot on target in a 45-minute period that witnessed the fewest shots (4) and lowest x G (0. 28) in the first half of a Premier League match so far this season. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player West Ham had the only shot on target in the first half, when debutant Mateus Fernandes teed up Paqueta who forced Matz Sels into an acrobatic fingertip save. Otherwise, the Hammers' approach was seemingly to take as few risks as possible. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The game came to life after the break, and though both teams had chances, Forest started to pin their opponents back. But spells of pressure were not capitalised on and West Ham fired a warning shot when Wilson's deflected shot was tipped over brilliantly by Sels. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player With six minutes of the 90 to play they made the breakthrough when Bowen expertly steered substitute Crysencio Summerville's ball over the line and they doubled the lead when Paqueta stuttered his run-up and rolled in a penalty after Sangare had fouled Summerville. The Hammers even managed what was a deserved third, as El Hadji Diouf Malick lifted the ball perfectly for Wilson to head into the turf and beyond Sels. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player West Ham manager Graham Potter speaking to Sky Sports: "It was really pleasing for the players. You face a lot of criticism, of course, and lack of trust, lack of confidence and all that stuff, so it's nice for them to show the quality and togetherness we believe has always been there. "Before the game there was negativity everywhere. You only have to look at the results and the easy conclusion is we're all bad and it isn't quite as simple as that. But we have to prove it and we have to show it. "There's no doubt we've had a tough couple of weeks because of results and goals have affected us too much, and then you understand where the criticism and the negativity comes from. All you can do is work and keep going, and I think the players deserve that win today. "I can't remember Nottingham Forest having too much, to be honest. I thought we carried a threat; we weren't fantastic, but we were certainly together and compact and resilient defensively. Our substitutions helped us. "The whole team has been together. You face a lot of nonsense because that's the world we're in, but the team has been fantastic to work with; great togetherness, great connection and I'm delighted they get the three points. " West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen speaking to Sky Sports: "It means everything. It's been a disappointing start to the season, but as I've said, it doesn't define our season. "Just like today, we're going to enjoy it, but we don't get ahead of ourselves. So for us, we knew we could come here and do that. "We had a feeling about us that the lads' application, the effort, every day in training. I see it every day. "There are only so many times that you do the right things on the pitch and you get your due rewards. Today is the perfect example of that. "We had a stat that we conceded 11 shots and conceded 11 goals [in the first three in all competitions]. That shouldn't happen. "When that happens, we have to look at ourselves and keep the ball out of the back of the net. "Football is very simple: keep the ball out of your net and put it in the back of the other. That's what we did today. " West Ham forward Callum Wilson speaking to Sky Sports: "I've come here knowing that I'd have to work to get into the team. "If you keep doing the right things and trust in the process, eventually you will get the opportunities. Then it's about taking it, and thankfully me and Summerville did that today and helped the team get three points. "I'm delighted for the boys at the back to get a clean sheet as they've had it tough for the last few weeks. "Results determine the flak the manager has gotten, but he's been professional about it. He's been so professional about it. "He's stuck with us, we've stuck with him. We've spoken about it internally - about if we keep doing the right things eventually, like today, we've got our rewards. "The change of shape as well has probably given us a platform to go and attack, and today it's given us three goals. " Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo speaking to Sky Sports: "The first half was balanced. Required more speed in our circulation of the ball. We were too slow, no urgency in our game that was required. "That was the idea for the second half and it came totally the other way around. We got imbalanced, made mistakes and West Ham punished us. "I think we were always in control, but no urgency. We were not able to really, really create chances. There was lack of mobility, movement and we played the way West Ham wanted us to play. "They were well-organised. We have to know what they did and now look at ourselves because we made mistakes that really punished us and took us away the game. "This is what we are going to do internally, look so it doesn't repeat again. "Naturally, I think we all need to know each other better. "Today was a bad day, but we bounce back. " Super 6 are starting the season by guaranteeing a £1, 000, 000 winner! Play for free.

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