Honestly, if you looked at the league table at the start of the season, you wouldn't have pegged West Ham vs Nottm Forest as the definitive "six-pointer" of January 2026. But football is weird like that. Life comes at you fast. One minute you're dreaming of European nights under the London Stadium lights, and the next, you're watching Alphonse Areola misjudge a cross in the 89th minute to hand Morgan Gibbs-White a game-winning penalty.
That 2-1 win for Forest on January 6 was basically a car crash for Nuno Espírito Santo.
It's a strange irony, isn't it? Nuno, the man who once had Forest humming, now sits in the West Ham dugout watching his former club pull seven points clear of the drop zone at his expense. The Hammers are stuck in 18th. They haven't won a Premier League game in nine tries. That is a long time to go without a "W" in this league.
The London Stadium Heartbreak
The atmosphere at the London Stadium for the recent West Ham vs Nottm Forest clash was, well, toxic is a strong word, but "deeply frustrated" fits. When Murillo accidentally bundled the ball into his own net in the 13th minute to give West Ham the lead, you could almost feel a collective sigh of relief. Finally, a bit of luck!
But the Hammers are experts at making life difficult for themselves lately.
They couldn't kill the game. Crysencio Summerville thought he’d made it 2-0 early in the second half, but VAR—the eternal mood killer—spotted an offside. That felt like the turning point. Three minutes later, Nicolás Domínguez looped a header over Areola from an Elliot Anderson corner. 1-1. Just like that, the momentum evaporated.
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Then came the disaster.
In the dying minutes, Areola completely lost the flight of a cross and caught Gibbs-White right in the face. It was one of those penalties where you don't even need the VAR monitor, though referee Tony Harrington took a look anyway just to be sure. Gibbs-White stepped up, went straight down the middle, and probably ended Nuno's honeymoon period—if there ever was one—at West Ham.
Why West Ham vs Nottm Forest is the New Bitter Rivalry
It’s not a "traditional" rivalry like the North London Derby, but there's a growing edge to West Ham vs Nottm Forest that people aren't talking about enough. Maybe it’s the fact that they’ve played 124 times since 1911 and the wins are almost perfectly split. Before the January 2026 meeting, both teams sat on exactly 49 wins each.
Forest’s 2-1 victory didn't just give them three points; it gave them the historical lead.
- The Chris Wood Factor: Even though he was out for the January clash with a knee injury, Chris Wood has been a total menace in this fixture. He’s bagged eight career goals against West Ham.
- The Sean Dyche Effect: Since taking over at Forest, Dyche has brought that "dogs of war" mentality. They don't care about possession. In fact, they usually have less of it. They just care about being efficient.
- The Recruitment Gap: While West Ham spent big on Valentin Castellanos and Pablo to solve their scoring woes, Forest have relied on the growth of guys like Anthony Elanga and the dominance of Murillo in the back.
The Tactical Mess at West Ham
What’s going wrong? Basically everything. West Ham are currently enduring their longest run without a clean sheet in the Premier League—26 games. That is a staggering statistic for a team with Jean-Clair Todibo and Max Kilman in the heart of defense.
Under Graham Potter, they were trying to be this expansive, ball-playing side. Then Nuno came in, and it feels like the identity is just... lost. They’re strong in aerial duels, sure. They can steal the ball in midfield. But they can't finish a sandwich right now. They create chances and then proceed to hit the goalkeeper or the advertising hoardings.
Forest, on the other hand, are the kings of the "smash and grab." They are arguably one of the best counter-attacking units in the bottom half of the table. They’ll sit deep, let you have 60% of the ball, and then let Elanga or Hudson-Odoi burn you on the break. It’s simple. It’s effective. It’s why they’re 17th and climbing, while West Ham are 18th and sinking.
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Looking Ahead: Can the Hammers Survive?
The fallout from the latest West Ham vs Nottm Forest result is still being felt. There’s serious talk about Slaven Bilić making a sensational return to the London Stadium. Fans are restless. The team looks low on confidence.
If you're a West Ham fan, you're looking at the upcoming fixtures and sweating. They are away at Tottenham soon, and with players like Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf away at the Africa Cup of Nations, the squad is paper-thin.
Forest, meanwhile, are looking up. They face Arsenal next, and while that’s a mountain to climb, the "shift in mentality" Sean Dyche mentioned after the West Ham win is real. They have breathing room.
What you should do next:
Keep a very close eye on the West Ham injury report. If Lucas Paquetá and Jean-Clair Todibo don't return to the starting XI immediately, the Hammers are in serious trouble for their next three fixtures. For Forest fans, watch the fitness of Chris Wood; his return could be the difference between a mid-table finish and another nervy May.
Check the official Premier League app for the updated relegation probability stats—West Ham's "drop" percentage shot up by 12% following that Gibbs-White penalty. It's getting real in East London.