Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo dedicated the vital 2-1 victory at West Ham on Sunday to striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who is currently recovering from a severe injury. Awoniyi underwent urgent abdominal surgery and was placed in an induced coma after a collision with a goalpost during last weekend's draw against Leicester City. The 27-year-old Nigerian expressed his gratitude on Instagram, stating he feels fortunate to be alive and able to keep fighting with a positive spirit.
Ahead of the match, Forest players warmed up wearing shirts bearing Awoniyi's name and number nine, with the front displaying the message We're all with you Taiwo. Morgan Gibbs-White, who scored the opening goal, later raised Awoniyi's shirt to the crowd, dedicating the win to him. Gibbs-White described the week as emotionally challenging for the team, emphasising how everyone had been supporting Awoniyi's recovery.
Nuno reflected on the team's motivation, explaining that Awoniyi had been on their minds since the start of preparations due to the seriousness of his injury. He praised the striker's infectious smile and said the players were proud to secure the win in his honour. Nikola Milenkovic added Forest's second goal before Jarrod Bowen scored for West Ham, but Forest held on to set up a decisive final game against Chelsea at the City Ground.
Currently seventh in the Premier League, Forest remain just one point behind the top five spots that guarantee Champions League football. To qualify for Europe's premier competition for the first time since the 1980-81 season, they will require favourable results from Aston Villa and Manchester City, alongside a win over Chelsea. Nuno described the upcoming home fixture as a chance to create something "magical" for the club.
The match extended to 112 minutes and 55 seconds, largely due to a lengthy six-minute VAR review for Milenkovic's goal. Referee Sam Barrott had to consult both managers on the touchline, while the Premier League's video assistant referees explained the semi-automated offside technology was unavailable and communication issues arose with on-field officials. Second-half stoppage time stretched to nearly 17 minutes, with Nuno admitting he was hoping for the game to end amid the delays caused by technical problems.