Latest Nottingham Forest verdict as Vitor Pereira’s Reds beaten 2-1 by Brighton and Hove Albion in Premier League clash
16:03, 01 Mar 2026Updated 16:12, 01 Mar 2026
Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest scores his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest at Amex Stadium
Nottingham Forest squandered the chance to put some distance between themselves and the bottom three as they fell to a 2-1 defeat away to Brighton and Hove Albion.
Competing on two fronts remains the challenge for the Reds, having clinched their place in the Europa League last 16 in midweek. They are keen to go far in that tournament but retaining their Premier League status is the absolute priority for the club.
Having seen relegation rivals West Ham United beaten by Liverpool on Saturday, the trip to the south coast represented a huge opportunity for Vitor Pereira’s men. But they got off to a nightmare start by conceding with just six minutes on the clock. Amid a string of errors at the back, Neco Williams twice failed to clear and Matz Sels was beaten by Diego Gomez’s strike from an angle.
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If Forest are going to survive, they need their big players to step up. And Morgan Gibbs-White did that by producing a superb equaliser just seven minutes later.
It was a lovely move by the visitors and a terrific finish by their No.10 from range after being teed up by Igor Jesus. It should have been the platform for the Reds to push on, but another case of poor defending saw Danny Welbeck reclaim the lead for the Seagulls with a shot on the turn on the quarter-hour mark.
Forest were all over the shop at the back and could have been even further behind at the break. Sels denied Kaoru Mitoma, Mats Wieffer and Jack Hinshelwood, while Welbeck fired narrowly wide.
Somehow, the Reds were still in the game but they needed to do much better in the second half. With little change to the pattern of play, Pereira decided to change to a back three before the hour mark.
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The formation shift prompted an improved showing from the visitors but clearcut chances were still hard to come by. Substitute Taiwo Awoniyi went close with a header late on but the visitors couldn’t find another equaliser. Here’s how Reds reporter Sarah Clapson rated the Forest players at the Amex Stadium.
Matz Sels: Ought to have done better with Brighton’s opener, but kept his team in it for as long as he could after conceding for a second time. A worry when he went down in the first half and required treatment but the Belgian was able to continue. Rating: 6.5/10
Ola Aina: Off the pace in the opening 45 minutes as the Seagulls gave their opponents the runaround. Managed to push forward more in the second half but couldn’t help forge a breakthrough. Rating: 5/10
Nikola Milenkovic: Arguably the pick of Forest’s back line in a first half where they looked decidedly fragile – albeit the bar was set fairly low. As a unit, they were much better after the switch to a three-man defence. Rating: 6/10
Murillo: Well below his usual levels in a first half where the Reds were a complete mess defensively. Most unlike the Brazilian, in that sense. Steadied himself when the Reds changed shape after the break. Rating: 4.5/10
Neco Williams: Has been Mr Consistent for much of the season but had an absolute shocker of an opening 20 minutes – and it proved costly. Amount of minutes played has clearly caught up with the Welshman, was no surprise to see him brought off in the second half. Rating: 4/10
Ibrahim Sangare: Has been immense in recent weeks and developed into such a key player. When he plays well, the Reds tend to; but it seems the opposite also applies. Not the best way to bring up his half-century of Premier League appearances for the club. Rating: 5/10
Elliot Anderson: Not his usual self as the Reds lost the midfield battle in the opening 45 minutes. Hindered by the fact he had to walk a tightrope after picking up a booking with 30 minutes played. Rating: 4.5/10
Omari Hutchinson: Started with intent when he tried his luck from a short-corner two minutes in, but that was about as good as it got. Needed to offer more, both going forward and with his defensive duties. Rating: 5/10
Morgan Gibbs-White: Stood up to be counted when Forest needed him with an excellent goal. Certainly cannot fault the skipper’s effort or commitment. One of few to able to hold his head high after this one. Rating: 7/10
Callum Hudson-Odoi: Seemed to indicate he had a niggle very early on. Managed to carry on but didn’t offer a great deal. Should have been the perfect opportunity for the winger to build on his goal in midweek but it was one he struggled to take. Rating: 5/10
Igor Jesus: Did well for the equaliser and set up Gibbs-White with a nice ball. Too often, though, the Brazilian was clumsy and laboured when Forest needed him to be sharp and decisive. Didn’t help that he got hardly any protection from the referee. Rating: 5/10
Subs
Luca Netz (for Williams, 56mins): Settled in pretty well and gave a decent account of himself. Food for thought for Pereira in upcoming Premier League games as Williams and Aina look tired. Rating: 6/10
Jair Cunha (for Hutchinson, 56mins): Must have impressed Pereira on Thursday night as seems to have moved ahead of Morato in the pecking order. Looked assured enough once again. Rating: 6/10
Dilane Bakwa (for Hudson-Odoi, 74mins): Some positive moments without quite having the cutting edge to make a difference. Looks like he needs a huge confidence boost from somewhere, just to find his feet. Rating: 5/10
Taiwo Awoniyi (for Jesus, 82mins): Wasn’t too far away with a header soon after coming on. A case could be made that he should have replaced Jesus earlier. Surely deserves more minutes in the games ahead. Rating: 6/10
Dan Ndoye (for Aina, 82mins): Didn’t have long to make an impact. Forest pushed in the closing stages, but not enough to force an equaliser. Rating: 5/10
Subs not used: Gunn, Dominguez, Yates, McAtee.
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