Nottingham Forest delivered a game to remember at the City Ground, producing a footballing masterclass with a breathtaking 7-0 thrashing of Brighton & Hove Albion. In a performance that will go down in Premier League folklore, Forest tore through the Seagulls with a relentless attacking display, and at the heart of it all was Chris Wood, bagging a clinical hat-trick to send the home crowd into raptures.
The warning signs were there early on as Forest flew out of the traps with an energy and intensity that Brighton simply couldn’t handle. The first goal came within minutes, setting the tone for a relentless evening. Wood opened his account in the 32nd minute with a poacher’s finish, capitalising on a well-worked move that sliced open Brighton’s defence.
Brighton, usually so composed in possession, found themselves overwhelmed by Forest’s pressing and direct attacking play. Every time the visitors tried to regroup, Forest hit them again. By the time Wood netted his second in the 64th minute with a towering header, the City Ground was rocking, the Forest faithful sensing something truly special.
Just six minutes later, Wood completed his hat-trick in ruthless fashion, latching onto a pinpoint cross to slot home with the confidence of a striker at the peak of his powers. The roar that greeted his third goal could probably be heard across Nottingham as fans celebrated a stunning individual performance from the New Zealand international.
But Forest weren’t done yet. With Brighton in complete disarray, goals kept flying in as the home side put on an exhibition of attacking football. Every counterattack looked dangerous, every pass purposeful, every finish clinical. By the time the final whistle blew, the scoreline read 7-0—an emphatic statement that Forest mean business.
For Forest fans, however, this was a night to savour, a performance that will be talked about for years to come. If this was a sign of things to come, the rest of the league had better take notice—Nottingham Forest are here to make waves.
