In a Premier League contest billed as a 'relegation cup final', Nottingham Forest came from behind to beat West Ham United 2-1, with Morgan Gibbs-White's late penalty, awarded after a VAR review, sealing a dramatic victory at West Ham.
West Ham had gone in front thanks to Murillo's own goal and appeared to be in a commanding position when Cysensio Summerville struck midway through the second half, only for VAR to intervene and rule the effort out for an offside against Lucas Paqueta. Within four minutes Forest were celebrating an equaliser from Nicolas Dominguez, and another crucial VAR decision four minutes from time punished Alphonse Areola's attempt to punch clear a set-piece, allowing Gibbs-White to convert from the spot and turn a vital relegation battle on its head.
Relegation 'Cup Final' Piles Pressure on Nuno and West Ham
The meeting carried heavy weight even before kick-off. West Ham were already seven points from safety and came into the game having lost five of their previous six matches, leaving head coach Nuno Espirito Santo under intense scrutiny. It was also his first encounter with Forest since he was sacked in September, after his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis had broken down, adding a personal subplot to an already fraught occasion.