Day 14: Nottingham Forest

Everyday, from now until Christmas Eve, we will take a look at a Premier League club and rate their season so far. Today, it is Nottingham Forest’s turn to be put under the microscope as we continue our Premier League Christmas Countdown.

Forest have started this season off strongly, earning 28 points from 16 games so far this season. This form sees them sit above the likes of Aston Villa and Manchester City in the table. But how far can they go this season and is it just a ‘flash in the pan’ moment or is it sustainable?

Slow But Strong Start

Nottingham Forest started the season with a solid draw against Bournemouth at the City Ground. Bournemouth were struggling without a striker and were punished as Chris Wood, who is one of the most inform strikers in the league scored for Forest before Antione Semenyo equalised.

🇬🇭 Antoine Semenyo scored a late equalizer to secure a point against Nottingham Forest today.

The first Ghanaian player to find the back of the net in the Premier League this season. pic.twitter.com/Q5IP2DnViU

— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) August 17, 2024

They followed this up with a trip to the South Coast where they beat Southampton 1-0 and then drew at home to struggling Wolves 1-1. While these were decent results at the time, both Southampton and Wolves are in turgid form right now, so the draw against the latter is probably rather disappointing.

In the first game in September, Forest travelled to Anfield to face Liverpool who had started this season in perfect form. Callum Hudson-Odoi scored the only goal in the game to give Forest their first win at Liverpool since 1969.

First Defeat of the Season

September saw Forest’s unbeaten run come to an end, but not before another draw, this time against Brighton. This dramatic game saw two goals each, a red card each and a single point each. Following this, Forest were beaten 1-0 at home to Fulham, meaning that even though the Trees had started the campaign excellently, they were still without a home win all season.

Their first home win came in the middle of October after a draw away against Chelsea. They faced Crystal Palace at the City Ground, a team that had been struggling this season, and like so many other occasions, won 1-0, with Chris Wood scoring the only goal. The month ended with another win, this time over Leicester City.

A Hit and Miss Month

November was definitely an up and down sort of month for Nottingham Forest, with two wins and two losses. It started off with an emphatic victory over a 10 man West Ham side, piling even more pressure on Julen Lopetegui as he was brought in to make West Ham like Forest are now.

Chris Wood has done it again! EIGHT Premier League goals for the New Zealand international this season!

Nottingham Forest lead West Ham at The City Ground. pic.twitter.com/cq5z0RkCcL

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 2, 2024

Following this match was another home defeat, this time to Newcastle. Forest were leading 1-0 at half time, but three second half goals from the Magpies saw them return up north with all three points. It was a similar tale in the next match, as the Trees were beaten with ease by Arsenal, losing 3-0 at the Emirates.

They ended November with a nervy 1-0 win over Ipswich Town at home. Wood once again scored the only goal, and while Ipswich edged the possession stats, they couldn’t find the back of the net. The result saw Forest put distance between themselves and a lot of the chasing pack, while it also moved them within one point of Manchester City and Brighton.

Christmas Is A Time For Joy

December has been quite kind for Forest so far, despite losing in their first match against Manchester City. Many thought that the Citizens had returned to form after they beat Forest 3-0 at home and similarly many had thought that Nottingham Forest’s good form had come to an end, but they’d be wrong on both accounts.

Player. pic.twitter.com/aDfiwDZtKQ

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) December 15, 2024

Forest faced the other Manchester side next, again away from home, and won 3-2, stunning United with two avoidable goals early in the second half. Following the win, they also beat Aston Villa with a late comeback, which seems to be the theme of the Premier League season so far. They are now inside the top four with games against Brentford and Tottenham to come in the next few weeks.

Player of the Season

There isn’t a single number nine in the Premier League that is in better form currently than Chris Wood. In that position, only Erling Haaland has more goals, but he reached 10 goals in the first five games and has only scored three times since September, while Wood’s goal scoring has been well spread over the whole season.

Season Rank: A

End of Season Prediction: 7th

Check out our Christmas Countdown article from yesterday.