Nuno Espírito Santo has made Nottingham Forest one of the quickest teams in the league with an ability to form attacks in transition and from turnovers in a matter of moments.
At Ipswich, Nuno’s 50th Premier League match in charge, the visitors moved swiftly in numbers, their strength coming from their unpredictability. Anthony Elanga constantly roamed in the pockets of space across the frontline, ultimately leading to his double in Forest’s 4-2 victory, while Callum Hudson-Odoi and Neco Williams often switched positions on the left flank.
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But the one constant was Morgan Gibbs-White. Captaining the side and spurred on by “England’s No 10” chants and profanities aimed at Thomas Tuchel from the away support, Gibbs-White took charge in the middle of the pitch. His assist for Forest’s fourth marked his 40th Premier League goal involvement for the club, just four shy of Ian Woan’s club record.
Early on, he combined with Elanga and Hudson-Odoi to win a corner, which led to a Nicolás Domínguez chance before winning the ball back and laying it off to Elliot Anderson, whose shot hit Chris Wood’s back as the striker attempted to duck out of the way.
Forest’s first shot on target came when Gibbs-White’s cross from the right found a speeding Wood. Situated between Luke Woolfenden and Jacob Greaves, the striker was perfectly placed to score the first goal of the game, but his header landed straight into the arms of Alex Palmer.
Forest’s dominance was rewarded with a 35th-minute opener after a mix-up at the back led to a corner that Ipswich’s Liam Delap failed to clear. Nikola Milenković was the quickest to react to the resulting cross, lashing a shot straight into the roof of the net to give the visitors a deserved lead. The second came two minutes later as Elanga got the better of a retreating Greaves after receiving a crisp pass out wide from Anderson. The winger quickly cut inside to shift the ball on to his left and bend the ball into the far corner.
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And despite it being a sunny day, Forest proved rather quickly – as countless teams have done this season – that when it rains at Portman Road, it pours. Four minutes later, Elanga latched on to a long ball from Milenković. One touch with his head got the ball down, the second afforded him a yard of space before the third, a confident, slotted finish, tucked the ball under Palmer.
Ipswich remain the only side in England’s top four tiers without a win in 2025. Jens Cajuste and George Hirst scored late consolations in between Jota Silva’s final dagger, but even when Forest let up, the signs were clear: this is not a top-flight quality team. With nine points between them and safety, the Premier League flag atop the Cobbold Stand will very likely be taken down come May.
