Nottinghamshire

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The win was Nottingham Forest's biggest win of the season and backed up their 4-1 victory over Burnley last weekend.

Vitor Pereira's side are on a fantastic run at just the right time. They are unbeaten in six league games (three wins and three draws) and have a Europa League semi-final with Aston Villa on the horizon.

They stunned a Sunderland side who have the eighth-best home record this season.

The mood in the East Midlands is significantly more optimistic now than it was on 15 March - when Forest were last dragged into the relegation zone following a West Ham draw against Manchester City.

Pereira's team have since collected 10 points from a possible 12, a run which started with their crucial 3-0 win at relegation rivals Tottenham, and has lifted the club away from danger.

Individually, Morgan Gibbs-White continued his fine form. The England midfielder scored his seventh goal in as many games and also assisted Wood's strike with a clinical pass.

Chris Wood, who has spent most of his season sidelined by a knee injury, scored his first Forest goal since netting two on the opening day of the season.

Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Five goals, a clean sheet, I'm very happy the players, the supporters, the club and the staff. We deserve it because we played a fantastic first half. Congratulations to the people who do the set plays, they did a great job today. Recover, enjoy just a little bit and be ready for the next challenge.

"We decided to come here and press them because we are fighting for our life. When we are fighting we feel the need to do something, not to wait, we decided to press them and we did it very well and the fantastic goals from set plays.

"The second half was a bit different. Some injuries, some yellow cards, and with yellow cards you cannot be so aggressive on the ball. In the end one more goal, we did not concede, I am happy of course."

On Elliot Anderson's goal: "He makes part of our family. This is the moment to be with him, to support him, to help him every day. He is a fantastic player with a strong, strong character. He is a fighter, a winner and he proved today again he deserves everything."

On Chris Wood's goal: "A fantastic striker. He knows everything about the game. How to hold the ball, how to assist, how to score, how to press, everything. He helped in the defensive set plays. He is a striker who can do everything.

"Morgan [Gibbs-White] also had a fantastic game, Igor [Jesus], Omari [Hutchinson], the defenders, the midfielders too. The speed that we showed, even from the bench, when we do the subs we kept the spirit."

On being eight points clear from the drop zone: "It isn't enough. We need more points, we need to win more games and we need to keep our mentality."

Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson speaking to Sky Sports: "We are on a good run at the minute. It's taken a while but we fully believe in ourselves. The manager is right behind us and we are enjoying it."

On Chris Wood's return to the goals: "It's good to have him back and for him to score. I was speaking to him the other day and he said when you come back from injury and score you get huge confidence, so I'm really happy for him.

On his goal: "Really happy with it, and really happy to score here as well. I just know that my Mum would have been really proud with that one so I'm happy.

Did you know?

• In Morgan Gibbs-White (16) and Igor Jesus (15), Nottingham Forest are the only Premier League side to have two players score 15+ goals across all competitions this season.

• Nottingham Forest scored four first half goals in a Premier League away game for the first time – the Tricky Trees were the first top-flight side to do so on the road since Tottenham Hotspur vs Southampton in December 2024 (5-0).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

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It's two changes for both sides. For Sunderland, Trai Hume and Dan Ballard come in for Luke O'Nien and Reinildo Mandava, who both drop to the bench.

Omar Alderete was substituted early in the second half in Sunderland's 4-3 loss to Aston Villa, but he starts tonight.

Sunderland XI: Roefs; Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Hume; Xhaka, Sadiki; Rigg, Diarra, Le Fee; Brobbey.

Subs: Ellborg, Cirkin, Geertruida, Talbi, Mayenda, O'Nien, Mandava, Isidor, Jones.

Forest's Jair Cunha is in for the injured Murillo at centre-back. Igor Jesus starts with Dilane Bakwa benched.

Nottingham Forest XI: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Cunha, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Jesus, Gibbs-White, Hutchinson; Wood.

Subs: Ortega, Morato, Awoniyi, Ndoye, Dominguez, Yates, McAtee, Netz, Bakwa.

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Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Boss Vitor Pereira will look to continue Nottingham Forest's revival and take a huge step to safety at Sunderland on Friday (20:00 BST).

Forest are third in the form table over the last five matches, behind Brighton and Manchester City, after edging away from the Premier League's relegation zone.

Their 10 goals in the last five matches is also the best attack in the league over that period while, since Pereira replaced Sean Dyche, Forest have conceded seven goals in seven league games - the fifth best in the league.

It has left them five points clear of the bottom three and with the chance to move eight points clear at the Stadium of Light to put the pressure on Tottenham and West Ham for the final relegation spot.

Since Pereira took over, Forest's goals per game in the Premier League have gone up 64% from 0.96 to 1.57 and they are now creating 30% more big chances, converting 75% more of them, according to analysis by Goalpoint.

In a clear picture of how the style has changed under Pereira, open play crosses have dropped by 31% and deep crosses have gone down 29% but shots from through balls have gone up 31%.

Defensively, Forest's errors leading to shots are down 23% and they are also allowing fewer shots against them inside the box with successful tackles up 10% under Pereira.

Expected goals (xG) conceded have gone from 1.5 to 1.2 and with five games left Forest will aim to maintain their form to seal survival.

Image source, Getty Images

Can Nottingham Forest stay up?

Wolves and Burnley are relegated so the battle to avoid finishing in the third from bottom spot is on with just five games remaining.

Opta have given Forest a 4.27% chance of going down as they have a five-point cushion on Tottenham, who sit in 18th.

"I wish I had a crystal ball and I could tell you what was going to happen to end the anguish of the next couple of weeks," said BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray on the Shut Up And Show More Football podcast. "It's difficult to predict form at this time of the season for any side.

"I would say Leeds are out of it because if you get to 40 points you're probably going to be OK.

"For a long time this season people said that wouldn't be enough but it looks like it's going to be. That means Forest need four more points and, as an in-form team, I can see them getting four points somewhere along the line.

"It is a mini-league but Forest are performing and they are showing resilience under pressure.

"If they can go to Sunderland and get three points then psychologically it's huge. They have had very good home form and full credit to what they have done this season. The crowd will be up for it and it will be a difficult game for Forest.

"Forest just need to continue what they have been doing."

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Prudent Nsengiyumva
BBC Sport journalist

A Sunderland side still in contention for European qualification face improving Nottingham Forest at the Stadium of Light on Friday (20:00 BST). Both sides are looking to hold their nerve in the closing stages of the season to achieve their goals.

Can Sunderland rediscover home strength?

The Stadium of Light has been a key asset for Sunderland this season, but that advantage has waned in recent weeks. Regis le Bris' side have lost three of their past four home league games after beginning the campaign unbeaten in their first 12.

Despite the recent wobble, their overall home record remains impressive. Winning their final three home games would take Sunderland to 38 points at the Stadium of Light – the best home return by a promoted Premier League side since Ipswich Town and Charlton Athletic in 2000-01.

Defensive vulnerability is a concern, though. Sunderland have conceded four or more goals in five of their past 13 league matches, highlighting a need for greater control against opponents who tend to thrive on the counter-attack.

Rigg matching club history at 18

Chris Rigg's emergence has been one of Sunderland's standout stories this season. At 18 years and 305 days, his fine goal against Aston Villa last weekend made him just the third teenager to score in the Premier League for the club, after Michael Bridges and Connor Wickham.

Forest aiming to extend unbeaten run

Nottingham Forest remain in the relegation fight, five points clear of the bottom three. However, Vitor Pereira's side are unbeaten in seven matches (W4, D3), their longest run since a nine-game stretch between December 2024 and January 2025.

That run has eased pressure as they also look ahead to a Europa League semi-final against Aston Villa.

Their 4–1 win over Burnley last time out was particularly important, marking the first time Forest had won a Premier League match by more than two goals after conceding first.

Morgan Gibbs White remains Forest's main attacking influence. His hat-trick against Burnley made him only the third player to score a Premier League treble for the club, after Kevin Campbell and Chris Wood.

With 12 league goals this season, the Forest captain is enjoying his most productive campaign.

Sunderland lost last week, in an absolute thriller against Aston Villa, but the way they fought back in that game kind of summed up why they have had such a good season.

They kept having a go and got back from 3-1 to 3-3 in the final few minutes before Villa's last-gasp winner.

Forest got in the goals last time out too, scoring four against Burnley, but this game feels like it will be far tighter and quite cagey.

A draw would be a decent result for Forest in the circumstances, with them sitting five points above Spurs, who are in the final relegation place.

Vitor Pereira's side have been tough to beat recently - they have not lost any of their past seven games and they have been good on the road too.

Even so, I have a sneaky feeling Sunderland will find a way of winning this one at home, and leave Forest with a bit more work to do.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Manchester City are in pole position to sign Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, despite interest from clubs including Manchester United and Arsenal. (Sky Sports), external

Forest will attempt to sign Celtic midfielder Arne Engels this summer, after having a bid of £25m for the 22-year-old rejected by the Scottish club in February. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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David Jackson and Colin Fray discuss Nottingham Forest's chances of Premier League survival on the latest episode of Shut Up And Show More Football.

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Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Defender Murillo is expected to miss Nottingham Forest's Europa League semi-final first leg against Aston Villa.

The centre-back limped off with an apparent hamstring injury in the first half of Sunday's 4-1 win over Burnley and is sidelined for Friday's Premier League trip to Sunderland.

He is also expected to miss the first game with Villa at the City Ground next Thursday, Forest's first European semi-final in 42 years.

"He is out [of the Sunderland game]," head coach Vitor Pereira said on Thursday. "We will see. It is a muscle injury.

"I'm not a doctor, I cannot predict, but he will be out tomorrow. I think it will be more than one game."

It adds to Forest's woes after Callum Hudson-Odoi was ruled out for the rest of the season.

The winger had surgery on a quad problem this week after coming off in the Europa League quarter-final win over Porto last week.

"He is OK after the surgery," Pereira said. "He is an important player for us, but the most important thing is for him to fully recover and come back at the level he used to have."