Sunderland 0 Nottingham Forest 5: Shocking First-Half Collapse Sends Tottenham and West Ham into Relegation Turmoil

NOTTINGHAM FOREST ran riot at Sunderland to take a huge step towards Premier League survival.

Vitor Pereira’s men can now focus on European glory – leaving West Ham and in a relegation shootout.

Nottingham Forest are now eight points clear of the drop zone after destroying Sunderland Credit: Getty Images – Getty Igor Jesus caused Trai Hume’s own-goal, scored Forest’s fourth and created another one Credit: Getty Images – Getty Chris Wood doubled the lead for Forest with a fine finish Credit: Getty Images – Getty Morgan Gibbs-White put together another stunning performance with a goal and assist Credit: Shutterstock Editorial

Forest had it in the bag by the break, scoring 10 per cent of their entire top-flight haul in the first half to race into a .

And while they can now dream about Champions League football next term via the Europa League, ’s own European hopes were blown away.

An own-goal from Trai Hume and goals by Chris Wood, , Igor Jesus as well as Elliot Anderson had the home supporters .

Astonishingly, the brave souls that remained received an earful from their own defender Nordi Mukiele as the half-time whistle was met by a chorus of boos.

Nobody saw this coming, especially after the start by Regis Le Bris’ men. They began like a house on fire with Chris Rigg, fresh from his first top-flight strike last week, forcing Matz Sels into an early stop.

But things started to go wrong the moment Omar Alderete, forced off last time out with a sickness bug at , gifted it to livewire Omari Hutchinson.

The winger was on it like a shot, cutting inside and unleashing a left footer that sent Robin Roefs scrambling to push away.

Though there was nothing Sunderland’s flying Dutchman could do to stop the opener – before he produced his own howler.

Hutchinson received a short corner back from and whipped right on the money for Jesus at the back post.

The Samba striker’s nod deflected off the back off the ball-watching Hume and into the net.

Fortune appeared to be on ’s side. That was the first own-goal they had benefited from away from home in the Prem since October 1994.

And even more good luck was about to come their way as Roefs gifted ex-Newcastle forward the second.

The keeper was far too relaxed as he dropped the ball in acres, ignoring his defender to the right and kicking it straight to the Kiwi. Gibbs-White pounced on it, playing it straight in for Wood to fire home.

Forest’s captain, who hit a hat-trick against Burnley on Sunday, took his tally to eight goals in his last 74 minutes with the third moments later, drilling home Jesus’ knockdown.

Talk about leading by example. That is now 13 Prem goals this season for MGW. Ten of them have come in 2026, the most of any player in the top-flight

Mackems were already heading for the exits but more misery was in store as things continued to get silly.

Jesus was loitering again at the back post and his clean finish struck Roefs’ arm and whizzed into the net to send the travelling supporters into dreamland.

Mukiele let rip at the locals as jeers met the whistle. But for him and Sunderland there was more agony when a Dan Ballard effort was ruled out for a foul following a VAR check.

All eyes on Villa now for Forest, who have six days to prepare for the first leg of their semi-final showdown with Unai Emery’s outfit.

Sunderland suffered a heavy defeat to Forest at home Credit: Richard Sellers/PA Wire