On Tuesday, 6 January 2026, West Ham United hosted Nottingham Forest at London Stadium in a Premier League fixture that carried significant weight for both clubs. The final score of 1-2 reflected Forest’s resilience as they came from behind to claim three vital points. West Ham’s early lead via an own goal was not enough to hold off a determined visitors’ side.
The match marked the return of Jean‑Clair Todibo and Lucas Paquetá from minor injuries, while Valentín Castellanos – known as Taty – made his debut for the Hammers. Nottingham Forest, under Sean Dyche, fielded a 4‑2‑3‑1 shape led by captain Morgan Gibbs‑White. Pre‑match predictions had favoured the visitors.
Below is a detailed breakdown of the starting XIs, the key events that decided the game, and what the result means for both teams moving forward.
What are the starting lineups for West Ham vs Nottingham Forest?
| Team | Formation | Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards | Substitutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Ham United | 4‑2‑3‑1 | Alphonse Areola | Kyle Walker‑Peters, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jean‑Clair Todibo, Oliver Scarles | Tomáš Souček, Mateus Fernandes | Jarrod Bowen (c), Lucas Paquetá, Crysencio Summerville, Valentín Castellanos | Mads Hermansen, Max Kilman, Ezra Mayers, Guido Rodríguez, Soungoutou Magassa, Freddie Potts, Pablo Felipe, George Earthy, Mohamadou Kanté |
| Nottingham Forest | 4‑2‑3‑1 | Matz Sels | Ola Aina, Nikola Milenković, Murillo, Neco Williams | Elliot Anderson, Nicolás Domínguez | Omari Hutchinson, Morgan Gibbs‑White (c), Callum Hudson‑Odoi, Igor Jesus | Angus Gunn, Nicolò Savona, Douglas Luiz, James McAtee, Dilane Bakwa, Morato, Taiwo Awoniyi, Zach Abbott |
- Valentín Castellanos made his competitive debut for West Ham, starting as the lone striker.
- West Ham used a 4‑2‑3‑1 structure; Nottingham Forest mirrored that formation with a midfield pivot of Anderson and Domínguez.
- Both teams had a bench of nine substitutes, offering multiple tactical options.
- Jean‑Clair Todibo and Lucas Paquetá returned from minor injuries to start.
- Nottingham Forest were without key players: Willy Boly and Ibrahim Sangaré (international duty), Dan Ndoye, John Victor, Ryan Yates, and Chris Wood (injury).
- Morgan Gibbs‑White captained Forest and later scored the decisive penalty.
- West Ham’s Aaron Wan‑Bissaka and Malick Diouf were unavailable due to international commitments; Łukasz Fabiański remained sidelined by injury.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Match | West Ham United vs Nottingham Forest |
| Competition | Premier League 2025/2026 – Gameweek 21 |
| Date | 6 January 2026 |
| Kick‑off | 20:00 GMT |
| Venue | London Stadium |
| Final score | West Ham 1‑2 Nottingham Forest |
| West Ham goal | Murillo (13′ own goal) |
| Nottingham Forest goals | Nicolás Domínguez (55′), Morgan Gibbs‑White (89′ pen) |
| Official broadcast | Sky Sports (UK) |
| Referee | Not publicly confirmed in available sources |
What was the final score and match prediction?
Scoreline and key moments
West Ham took an early lead when Murillo turned the ball into his own net in the 13th minute. Nottingham Forest equalised through Nicolás Domínguez ten minutes into the second half. Morgan Gibbs‑White then converted a penalty in the 89th minute to secure a 2‑1 victory for the visitors. The result pushed West Ham deeper into the relegation battle, while Forest boosted their survival hopes.
Pre‑match predictions
Betting markets favoured Nottingham Forest at odds of 11/8, according to Oddschecker. Several previews – including those from The Analyst and FotMob – correctly anticipated a 4‑2‑3‑1 formation for both sides. Predicted lineups varied slightly: The Analyst had Max Kilman and Soungoutou Magassa starting for West Ham, but the actual starting eleven aligned closely with the lineup confirmed by the Premier League official website and Sky Sports.
Some preview sources projected different starting XIs. For example, The Analyst forecast a West Ham defence without Scarles and Todibo, and Oddschecker suggested Callum Wilson could start up front. Actual lineups confirmed by official club channels and the Premier League are the definitive record.
Where can I find highlights and live coverage of West Ham vs Nottingham Forest?
Match highlights
After the final whistle, highlights were made available through official broadcasters. The Premier League website and the clubs’ official YouTube channels typically post condensed match footage. Sky Sports also aired a post‑match analysis segment covering the key moments – Murillo’s own goal, Domínguez’s equaliser, and Gibbs‑White’s late penalty.
Live coverage and commentary
Sky Sports provided live television coverage in the UK. For live text commentary, the FotMob match centre offered real‑time updates, lineups, and statistics. ESPN also carried a live match report and subsequent analysis. No official highlights video link was referenced in the available source material, but fans are advised to check the
Daniel Mercer is Music & Theatre Correspondent at ShowbizUK.co.uk, covering music, theatre, concerts, West End coverage, festivals, live entertainment and album releases.