Sunderland (A) 24/04/26

 

Sunderland 0-5 Nottingham Forest

                                        Hume OG 17'

                                        Wood 31'

                                        Gibbs-White 34'

                                        Jesus 37'

                                        Anderson 90+5'

 

As the season draws to a close, the tension builds. Most people thought this would be a tight game. I don’t think anyone would’ve predicted this final outcome.

After earning promotion through the playoffs last season, Sunderland have defied all the odds, looking set to finish mid-table comfortably with Europe still on the cards. A win on the night would see them climb up to eighth, something not many Sunderland fans would’ve expected at the start of the season. In their last outing, the Black Cats thought they had come back from 3-1 down at Villa Park to draw 3-3. However, a stoppage time Tammy Abraham goal saw them leave with nothing. Regis Le Bris named two changes from this game as Ballard returned from injury and Hume replaced Reinildo. Despite a difficult season at the bottom of the table, Forest are currently beaming with confidence, enjoying an unbeaten April in all competitions so far. They have made it to the Europa League semi-finals and last weekend, they came back from 1-0 to win 4-1, courtesy of a Gibbs-White hattrick. Pereira also made two changes as Cunha replaced the injured Murillo and Jesus came in for Bakwa. The Reds have won only one of the eight games Murillo hasn’t started in this season against bottom side Wolves. They currently sit 16th and a win would lift them eight points clear of the relegation zone.

Forest’s last visit to the Stadium of Light was back in 2017 in the Championship, when the Reds won 1-0. The Black Cats were relegated in that season, their second in a row.

Neither side really grasped an early foothold in the game. However, they both did look dangerous when going forward but it was Forest who took the lead first. Anderson and Hutchinson linked up from a short corner on the right before the latter whipped in a cross towards the back post first time. Jesus was there waiting, heading back across goal but his effort hit the back of Hume’s head and went in. Forest have avoided defeat in their last thirteen matches when scoring first.

Sunderland had been playing themselves into trouble in the opening half hour, giving away the ball to Forest’s high press. It hadn’t cost them yet but the Reds finally capitalised on a misplaced pass. Roefs pass to Xhaka was intercepted by Wood and latched onto by a reactive Gibbs-White. He played a first time pass to Wood in a much better position on the penalty spot. Roefs rushed out to meet the Kiwi but he stayed composed to poke it past the ‘keeper. That’s Wood’s first goal in the Premier League since the opening day, following his lengthy injury.

Just as those Forest fans up at the top of Carling Stand had calmed down, they were sent into chaos again. Forest won a corner on the left and repeated the same short corner routine that had earned them their first goal, this time with Williams and Anderson linking up. Williams lofted in the cross to the back post for an unmarked Jesus who headed down for an also unmarked Gibbs-White on the penalty spot. He hit the ball first time on the volley before it nestled in the bottom left corner. Gibbs-White now has seven goals in seven games and is the player to have scored the most Premier League goals in 2026.

If you thought 3-0 was shocking, Forest would have your jaw wide open just three minutes later. Hutchinson whipped in a free kick from the left which was headed clear but only as far as Ola Aina on the edge of the box. He took on the shot but it was blocked by red and white shirts. Luckily for the Reds, it landed to Jesus on the left of the box and he took on a side-footed volley brilliantly to find the far netting. That is only the second time Forest have scored four goals in the first half of a Premier League game, the first time coming back in 1994. As first halves go, I don’t think Forest’s could’ve got any better.

Despite their rampant first half, Forest looked to be approaching the second half with a calmer approach. Neither side created anything until the hour mark when the hosts thought they had pulled one back. Xhaka fired in a free kick towards the right post where an unmarked Mukiele was waiting. He miss hit the ball so it looped in the air, allowing Ballard to run onto it and head home. However, on replay as Mukiele landed, he slid into Sels, meaning the ‘keeper couldn’t dive to make a proper save. After an on-field review, Darren England disallowed the goal.

The second half couldn’t have been more different to the first; the pace was slow. Forest’s last shot came in their fourth goal. Sunderland were dominating but they couldn’t create any real chances until three minutes to go. After cutting in from the left, Brobbey whipped a ball into the box. It was headed clear by Milenkovic but only as far as Le Fee 25 yards out who chested it down before unleashing a thunderous effort towards goal. Determined to keep his clean sheet, Sels pulled off an unbelievable save with an upwards outstretched arm.

Just as you thought the drama was over, the Geordie man put the cherry on top of the cake. Netz drove down the left, breaking into the box before pulling the ball back towards the edge of the box. He misplaced the pass but Dominguez recycled before finding Awoniyi ten yards out with his back to goal. The Nigerian turned and instead of shooting, he passed to Anderson who slotted past Roefs.

Last time Forest scored five away goals in the Premier League was back in 1995, when Forest beat Sheffield Wednesday 7-1. They are now on a six game unbeaten run in the Premier League, hitting form at just the right time.

Well, I don’t think anyone saw that one coming! I really liked our high press as it made us look really dangerous going forward. I think all the goals were really well taken too. It is nice to know that we can score goals as we scored five out of our six goals on target. We have also scored 20% of our goals in the league in these last two games. The second half was much slower but our game management was brilliant. I’m really happy for Anderson to get his goal especially in recent circumstances and the opponents and I think everyone celebrating with him really shows the togetherness in the squad right now. Normally one player stands out as the man of the match but I can’t pick one after Friday; it was just a brilliant team performance.

 

Sunderland: Roefs; Hume, Alderete, Ballard, Mukiele; Sadiki, Xhaka; Diarra (Isidor 65’), Le Fee, Rigg (Reinildo 46’); Brobbey

Forest: Sels; Williams, Cunha (Morato 50’), Milenkovic, Aina; Anderson, Sangare (Dominguez 46’); Gibbs-White, Jesus (Netz 67’), Hutchinson (Yates 67’); Wood (Awoniyi 88’)