Chris Wood starred with a hat-trick as Nottingham Forest delivered a resounding response to their 5-0 defeat at Bournemouth, thrashing Brighton 7-0 at the City Ground in their biggest-ever Premier League victory.
After suffering their first loss since early December, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side bounced back emphatically, dismantling a hapless Seagulls outfit that struggled to contain their relentless attacking play.
First-Half Blitz Stuns Brighton
Forest wasted no time asserting their dominance, taking the lead in the 12th minute when Lewis Dunk inadvertently turned Morgan Gibbs-White’s low cross into his own net.
Gibbs-White then doubled the lead with a glancing header from Anthony Elanga’s corner, before Wood made it 3-0 just past the half-hour mark, nodding home another Elanga assist for his 15th Premier League goal of the season—his best-ever tally in a single campaign.
Brighton had chances before halftime, with Yankuba Minteh denied in a one-on-one with Matz Sels, while Danny Welbeck struck the underside of the crossbar but saw his effort fail to cross the line.
Second-Half Onslaught Seals Brighton’s Misery
Desperate to stop the rout, Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler made a triple halftime substitution, but Forest continued their relentless attacking display.
Wood struck again in the 64th minute, tapping home another Elanga delivery to make it 4-0. Five minutes later, Tariq Lamptey’s foul on Gibbs-White gifted Wood a penalty, which he coolly converted to complete his hat-trick and make it 5-0.
There was no let-up for the visitors as Neco Williams capitalized on a loose ball in the area to make it 6-0, before Jota Silva rounded off the humiliation by firing home in added time after Bart Verbruggen’s misplaced pass.
What It Means
The emphatic victory lifts Nottingham Forest level on points with second-placed Arsenal, who play Manchester City on Sunday. Meanwhile, Brighton remain ninth, with their defensive frailties brutally exposed at the City Ground.
A statement win for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men, and a night to forget for Brighton.
