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Nottingham Post

Sport

Bruna Reis

'Seasons turn' - National media verdict as Nottingham Forest humbled by West Ham

West Ham Nottingham Forest Forest Danny Ings Declan Rice David Moyes Steve Cooper Michail Antonio Felipe EPL

Nottingham Forest's woeful record on the road continued at the London Stadium after they were defeated 4-0 by West Ham.

In just under 15 minutes, the hosts capitalised four times as £15million signing Danny Ings bagged a brace in his first start for the side. Declan Rice and former Reds forward Michail Antonio then sealed the result.

While it might have been an afternoon of relief for David Moyes and co, it was one of misery for the Reds.

Here is how the national media reported on events at the London Stadium...

BBC Sport, Tom Rostance

Danny Ings' first goals for West Ham proved the launching pad for a huge 4-0 win as David Moyes' side pulled themselves out of the Premier League relegation zone. Ings, a £15m signing from Aston Villa in January, proved the difference with two identical goals in three second-half minutes as the Hammers capped a much-improved display with a potentially significant three points.

Further goals from captain Declan Rice and substitute Michail Antonio sent the home fans away smiling on a rare goal-filled afternoon. Forest, who have only managed three goals away from home all campaign, were lifeless throughout in a disappointing display.

Forest's woeful record on the road - the worst attack away from home in all four divisions - was badly exposed again. Morgan Gibbs-White did thump a shot on target but the visitors never looked likely to score before West Ham's flurry of late goals confirmed defeat that leaves them four points from the drop zone.

"We conceded a goal but then what happened is not acceptable," manager Steve Cooper said. "The game was taken away from us, it's our own fault and we have to face it.

"Conceding goals quickly was happening to us at the start of the season and we made poor decisions again. It was a mentality thing and we were punished. There are no excuses."

Read more, here.

The Guardian, Sam Dalling

On afternoons like these, seasons turn. Fifteen frantic second-half minutes and suddenly a weight lifts, the mood of a whole club changes. Danny Ings at the three-minute double. Dreamland. David Moyes was still punching the air joyously when his captain, Declan Rice, added a sumptuous third.

Just like that a must-win game was won. West Ham move outside the Premier League’s bottom three – and two points behind Nottingham Forest in 13th. Thirty years since Bobby Moore’s passing was celebrated with a clean sheet. Already crestfallen, Nottingham Forest could barely believe it when first Rice and then Antonio added gloss. It was a surreal afternoon for them and Steve Cooper.

They will regret a lack of intent when there was a wound to be pushed at. "You could feel the tension in the stadium," Cooper said. "We talked about that and were trying to get it to turn into our favour."

But while they grew into the game, they struggled to create. Felipe’s early header from a Jonjo Shelvey free-kick required Fabianksi’s hand, while Harry Toffolo tested Alphonse Areola in injury-time.

There was little else of note. Cooper definitely minded this performance, and though they are 13th in the table they are only four points clear of the bottom three. "What happened between the first and the third goal is difficult to comprehend," he admitted. "It’s unacceptable in so many ways. We blame no one but ourselves."

Read more, here.

Daily Mail, Daniel Matthews

All of a sudden, David Moyes was on the pitch, Declan Rice and Lucas Paqueta were in the crowd, Danny Ings was lost among a pile of bodies, bubbles were blowing and, overhead, the storms clouds had made way for sunshine. My, oh my. How West Ham needed this. How Moyes needed this.

There had been whispers that Saturday’s visit of Nottingham Forest could mark his final match in the job. There had been murmurings of fear and frustration as the clock ticked towards 70 and another costly afternoon beckoned in West Ham’s fight for survival.

This victory, West Ham’s biggest win of the season, takes them out of the bottom three and, just maybe, towards brighter days. Now, some perspective: no team has picked up fewer away points this season than Forest, who took until stoppage time to force either Lukasz Fabianski or his replacement Alphonse Areola into a meaningful save.

But shortly before the floodgates opened, the pendulum was threatening to swing their way. No wonder Cooper struggled to explain what happened next. West Ham won’t care too much about the how and why. They have a second win in 12 Premier League matches; Moyes now has 250 top-flight victories, taking him alongside Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger.

More than once, Forest goalkeeper Keylor Navas was forced to claw balls from underneath his crossbar and after one aerial assault, Paqueta’s cross-cum-shot was diverted on to his own post by Felipe. That, in turned out, was the closest either side came before half-time. Not that West Ham’s pressure didn’t bring more chances. Their problem? Crossed wires.

Read more, here.

The Independent, Andy Sims

Danny Ings scored twice on his first start for West Ham United as they climbed out of the relegation zone with a thumping 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

The 30-year-old striker appeared to be a distinctly panicky signing for the struggling Hammers when he joined from Aston Villa for £12million last month. But Ings found the net twice in two second-half minutes to lift both his new side out of the bottom three and the mood at the London Stadium.

Declan Rice added a fine third and substitute Michail Antonio rounded off a much-needed win for boss David Moyes. All the goals came in the final 20 minutes after a cagey first 70 between two goal-shy sides.

Forest were showing about as much ambition as they had in snatching a draw with Manchester City last weekend, although Lukasz Fabianski did have to tip Felipe’s header over and hold a 20-yard shot from Morgan Gibbs-White in the first half. After the break, Aaron Cresswell’s corner was met by Soucek at the near post but his glancing header flew just over.

Forest were screaming for a penalty when Renan Lodi’s drive hit the hand of Ben Johnson but for the third match in a row West Ham got away with one, although in this case the shot was probably too close to penalise. Suddenly West Ham looked like a side with goals in them, arguably for the first time this season.

Read more, here.

Sky Sports

Danny Ings scored twice as West Ham sparked into a second-half frenzy of goals to thrash Nottingham Forest 4-0 and ease their relegation fears. Tension was growing inside the London Stadium with 20 minutes remaining with the game locked at 0-0, but Ings' close-range finish - his first goal since moving from Aston Villa for £15m in January - completely changed the momentum of West Ham's season.

Just two minutes later Ings grabbed another goal, this time from inside the six-yard box, before Declan Rice scored his second of the season courtesy of a sublime curling effort from 25 yards. There was still time for substitute Michail Antonio to head home to cap a 15-minute spell in which Forest completely capitulated.

The result lifts the Hammers out of the Premier League drop zone, two points above safety, while Forest remain 13th but are just four points away from danger. Brennan Johnson - Forest's only creative spark - wanted a penalty just before the break after he was clipped by Ben Johnson but referee Jarred Gillett waved it away.

The one-way traffic continued after the break as Aaron Cresswell's corner was met by Tomas Soucek at the near post, but his glancing header flew just over. Forest were growing into the game at this point but West Ham took the game away from then when Bowen drilled the ball low across goal where it was expertly guided in by Ings (70), who was level with the Forest offside line.

With the London Stadium finding its voice, Ings (73) soon had his second, another poacher's strike from Benrahma's cross into the six-yard area. Rice (78) got in on the act in the 78th minute, collecting Benrahma's cut-back and curling a superb effort over Keylor Navas and inside the far post.

Read more, here.