In a thrilling East Midlands derby, Nottingham Forest defeated Leicester City 3-1, with striker Chris Wood taking center stage. His second-half double proved decisive, pushing Forest up to fifth in the Premier League and cementing his place as one of the league’s most prolific goal scorers this season.
This win not only highlights Wood’s incredible form but also adds further momentum to Forest’s impressive start to the season under manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
First Half: A Fast Start and Vardy’s Equalizer
Nottingham Forest wasted little time asserting themselves at Leicester’s King Power Stadium. In the 16th minute, Ryan Yates gave Forest the lead with a stunning long-range strike. The goal came after a scramble in Leicester’s box, with the Foxes unable to properly clear the ball. Yates seized the moment, arrowing a powerful shot into the bottom corner of the net, leaving Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen with no chance. The strike marked a significant moment for Yates, who was celebrating his 150th league start for Forest.
Despite Forest’s early lead, Leicester soon found a way back into the game. Just seven minutes after Yates’ opener, Leicester capitalized on one of their few attacking opportunities. Harry Winks, known for his vision and passing ability, delivered a pinpoint cross into the box, which Jamie Vardy met with a clinical finish from close range. It was a vintage Vardy moment, as he timed his run perfectly to get on the end of Winks’ pass and score his first goal of the season. Remarkably, it was Leicester’s only shot on target throughout the match, underlining how effective Forest’s defense was.
Chris Wood’s Dominance: The Second Half Belonged to Forest
While the first half saw both teams creating chances, the second half was all about Nottingham Forest and, more specifically, Chris Wood. The New Zealand international has been in outstanding form this season, and this match was no exception.
Just two minutes after the break, Wood gave Forest the lead once again. A well-placed cross from the right found Wood in the box. Showing impressive composure and technique, he turned his marker and fired a shot past Hermansen to restore Forest’s advantage. It was a moment of brilliance from Wood, who made the most of the space he was given and struck with clinical precision.
Leicester’s defense, which had already struggled in the first half, failed to recover. Wood continued to torment the Foxes’ backline, and just 13 minutes later, he scored his second goal of the match. This time, it came from a long ball into the box that Leicester’s defenders misjudged. Wood, always alert and dangerous in the air, leaped above the defense to guide a looping header over Hermansen and into the net. His second goal effectively killed off the game, as Leicester struggled to mount any significant response.
Chris Wood’s Impact on Nottingham Forest’s Season
Chris Wood’s brace in this match took his Premier League goal tally to seven for the season, placing him second in the race for the Golden Boot, just behind Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. Wood’s form has been nothing short of spectacular. Since Nuno Espirito Santo took charge of Forest last season, only Haaland has scored more non-penalty goals in the Premier League than Wood. This form has been crucial to Forest’s rise in the league standings.
Wood’s performances also saw him move into joint-second place on Nottingham Forest’s all-time Premier League goalscoring list, alongside Stan Collymore. With 22 goals for the club, Wood is now just two goals behind Bryan Roy, Forest’s record Premier League scorer. Given his current form, it seems only a matter of time before Wood takes the top spot.
16 – Since Nuno Espírito Santo’s first game in charge of Nottingham Forest (23rd December, 2023), only Erling Haaland (18) has scored more non-penalty goals in the Premier League than Chris Wood (16). Remarkable. pic.twitter.com/6joJuE2Jvf
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 25, 2024
Speaking after the match, Wood praised the influence of Nuno Espirito Santo, who has placed emphasis on getting more deliveries into the box, a tactic that suits both Wood and fellow striker Taiwo Awoniyi. “He’s come in and put emphasis on getting the balls in the box,” Wood said. “We’re two big center-forwards who thrive on crosses, and that’s what we’ve worked on in training. Thankfully, it’s been paying off.”
Leicester Struggles Continue: Defensive Issues and Lack of Attacking Threat
While Nottingham Forest celebrated their rise to fifth place, Leicester City were left with plenty of questions after another disappointing performance. Leicester manager Steve Cooper, who had previously led Forest to promotion, now finds his current side languishing in 14th place, just six points above the relegation zone.
Cooper acknowledged that Leicester’s poor defensive performance played a significant role in their defeat. “It’s self-inflicted, no doubt about that,” he said. “We made poor mistakes for the goals, and we were punished for them. The third goal was a real killer for us.”
Leicester’s lack of attacking threat was also evident throughout the match. Apart from Vardy’s goal, the Foxes struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Forest goalkeeper Sels largely untested. The team’s reliance on Vardy, now in the latter stages of his career, continues to be a concern, and Cooper will need to find solutions quickly if Leicester are to avoid being drawn into a relegation battle.
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Nottingham Forest’s Bright Future
With the win, Nottingham Forest has now taken 11 points from their first five away games, an impressive return that has positioned them just a point outside the top four. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side looks well-organized and confident, with a solid defensive base and an attack that is proving increasingly lethal. Forest’s success this season has been built on a combination of tactical discipline and individual brilliance, and the team’s ambitions seem to be growing with each victory.
Though Wood downplayed his pursuit of the Golden Boot, acknowledging the challenge of competing with Erling Haaland, his performances suggest he could continue to be a key player for Forest as they push for a top-six finish. With momentum firmly on their side, Forest fans will be hoping that this season marks the beginning of a sustained challenge for European football.
⬆️ @NFFC move up to fifth!#LEINFO pic.twitter.com/BB4m11gw2I
— Premier League (@premierleague) October 25, 2024
