Football: Awoniyi nets winner over West Ham as Forest mark Premier League homecoming

NOTTINGHAM (AFP, REUTERS) - Nottingham Forest celebrated their first home game in the English Premier League for 23 years by beating West Ham 1-0 on Sunday (Aug 14).

The two-time European champions have made 14 signings in a bid to maintain their top-flight status and two of those making their home debuts were the heroes as Taiwo Awoniyi scored the only goal and Dean Henderson saved Declan Rice's penalty.

Forest had fortune on their side as the Hammers also had a first-half goal controversially ruled out and hit the underside of the crossbar twice after the break through Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma.

But that mattered little to a capacity 30,000 crowd at the City Ground, who roared the home side over the line.

West Ham have now lost both their opening two games of the season, but in stark contrast to a 2-0 defeat by Manchester City last weekend, they should have taken at least a point back to London.

Benrahma's cool finish from Rice's pass was ruled out after a VAR review for a foul by Michail Antonio as he blocked off Moussa Niakhate.

“I’m really happy about it because it took me a long journey to get back to the Premier League and I’m very, very proud of myself,” said Awoniyi, who was at Liverpool from 2015-21 but did not make a competitive appearance and was loaned out several times.

“It was a dream for me to score and for the team to win... I believe we will have a great season.”

Steve Cooper’s side had been outclassed by Newcastle United during their 2-0 defeat on the opening day but looked at home in the top flight against West Ham.

On top of nearly £100 million (S$166.4 million) in transfer fees, Forest have splashed out a reported £200,000 a week to secure Jesse Lingard from Manchester United on a one-year deal.

He had been long linked with a return to West Ham after a successful loan spell in the 2020-21 season.

And the 29-year-old played a part in the winner as his shot was blocked by Ben Johnson but rebounded in off Awoniyi's knee.

Bar a Brennan Johnson goal that was ruled out by VAR for offside, it was the visitors who had all the major chances after the break.

Fornals smashed an effort of the bar seconds into the second period before Benrahma did likewise from a nearly inch-perfect free kick.

Rice had the best chance of all from the spot after Scott McKenna handled Tomas Soucek's effort.

However, Henderson made himself an instant hero by diving low to his right to save the penalty.

More desperate defending was needed by Neco Williams to clear Kurt Zouma's header off the line late on, but Forest held out for a famous win.

The East Midlands side won the old First Division in 1978 and followed that up with back-to-back European Cups in 1979 and 1980.

“This place is a fortress. The fans have been bouncing all game and they deserve this one,” Henderson said.

“I know Dec’s favourite side (on penalties) as I’ve trained with him before... I stuck with what I knew and luckily he put it there.”