Taiwo Awoniyi Scores Forest’s First Premier League Goal/Victory In 23 Years

Taiwo Awoniyi scored Nottingham Forest’s first Premier League goal in 23 years, which also becomes their first victory in the top flight in over two decades, as they ground out a 1-0 win over West Ham at  the City Ground, Megasportsarena.com reports.

The Nigeria forward, who moved from Bundesliga side Union Berlin this summer, bundled home on his full debut to leave the home support delirious but Steve Cooper’s side needed Dean Henderson to save Declan Rice’s second-half penalty for them to hold on to the three points.

The atmosphere was raucous long before kick-off as the home support worked themselves into a frenzy and that manifested itself in a high-tempo start despite the heat. Awoniyi went close with a header early on as Forest pumped crosses into the West Ham box.

After the initial burst, however, West Ham started passing the ball and Harry Toffolo had to clear off the line from Tomas Soucek after Henderson had parried Benrahma’s shot. The moment of controversy came later though when Benrahma did find the net.

Forest’s first Premier League goal this century was anything but pretty but Awoniyi deserved it, the ball deflecting in off him after Ben Johnson blocked Jesse Lingard’s tame shot.

Awoniyi was such a handful that even Kurt Zouma struggled to cope with his physicality and, like his team, would have been glad of the half-time whistle. After the break, West Ham came out with intent in search of the equaliser but it never happened, they even had a penalty saved by Dean Anderson.