WEST HAM staged a stunning late show at the City Ground to seal their first win of the season – and take the heat off under-pressure boss Graham Potter.
Three goals in the space of eight minutes stunned Nottingham Forest – after Nuno Espirito Santo’s side had been frustrated all afternoon.
PAJarrod Bowen celebrates his crucial late goal[/caption]
Skipper Jarrod Bowen opened the scoring after 83 minutes when he found the net from the edge of the 18 yard box.
And Lucas Paqueta’s penalty moments later put West Ham two up.
But there was more to come as sub Callum Wilson added to Forest’s agony with his first West Ham goal.
Potter could not afford another defeat after three in a row this season.
But even he could not have expected his side to rally like this.
And what a contrast for Bowen. Five days ago he clashed with a Hammers fan after Tuesday’s Carabao Cup defeat at Wolves.
But this time he led the way as Hammers turned the screw.
Forest took an unbeaten start into the season and were clear favourites to win beforehand.
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ReutersLucas Paqueta calmly beat Matz Sels from the penalty spot[/caption]
ReutersPaqueta kissed the badge after scoring the Hammers’ second amid transfer links away[/caption]
But they could not break down a Hammers defence that had conceded 11 goals in three games.
The East Londoners played much of the game looking as if they would be happy with a draw.
Yet it was Forest’s Matz Sels who was the busier of two keepers – producing three crucial saves from Paqueta, Niclas Fullkrug and Wilson
It was not always pretty to watch from Potter’s men – especially when they had all 11 players in the Forest box at one point.
But it was clearly a case of needs-must in a situation where the Hammers boss needed to steady the ship.
His players did so much more than that though against a shot-shy Forest side.
Hammers grew in confidence the longer the game went on – and Bowen saw his chance as the travelling fans went wild.
ReutersCallum Wilson nods home his first goal for West Ham[/caption]
ReutersWilson celebrates his landmark goal[/caption]
After 85 minutes, the game was effectively over whem Ibrahim Sangare brought down sub Crysencio Summerville in the box.
Ref Craig Pawson pointed to the spot – but Forest claimed Morgan Gibbs-White had been fouled in the build up.
Paqueta cooly slid home the spot-kick – but Hammers kept up the pressure.
El Hadji Malick Diouf’s cross was met by Wilson who headed down and past Sels.
