Nottingham Forest take big step to safety as Anderson caps rout of Sunderland

Unfortunately Sunderland’s goalkeeper subsequently suffered an uncharacteristic brain melt and passed straight to Wood. It prompted a deft one two between the centre-forward and Gibbs-White before Wood lured Roefs off his line and scored his first Premier League goal since August low into the empty net.

It swiftly returned there when Igor Jesus headed Neco Williams’s splendid cross, following another short corner, down at the back post and Gibbs-White lashed the ball low into the bottom corner. If, as seems highly likely, Forest stay up, Gibbs-White will have played an integral role. A creator with 13 league goals to his name this season, he has scored 10 of them in 2026 and surely has a strong case for inclusion in England’s World Cup squad.

At kick-off only Arsenal and Manchester City had conceded fewer Premier League goals at home than Sunderland but as Igor Jesus scored Forest’s fourth before half-time that parsimonious record was in tatters.

This time the goal came from a gorgeous cushioned volley after Ola Aina’s deflected shot dropped invitingly for Igor Jesus. As Forest’s staff emerged from the dugout to literally jump for joy, it looked as if thousands of Sunderland fans were streaming towards the exits.

As he headed towards the tunnel at half-time Nordi Mukiele, Sunderland’s passionate right-back, seemed to be arguing with a few of those supporters. Once the home team emerged early for the second half, a similar sort of debate took place on the pitch between his teammates.

Sunderland thought they had reduced the deficit when Mukiele flicked on Granit Xhaka’s free-kick and, despite getting a hand to Dan Ballard’s diving header, Sels could not keep it out. After a five-minute review by the video assistant referee though, the referee Darren England was summoned to his pitchside monitor and the “goal” was duly disallowed for an accidental foul on Sels from Mukiele as he strove to control Xhaka’s delivery.

By now Forest had all but abandoned the idea of entering Sunderland’s box and failed to unleash any shots on target during a second period full of robust visiting defending – and several yellow cards – as Sunderland tried to restore dented pride.

At times even the hitherto deeply unimpressed looking Régis Le Bris applauded Xhaka, Enzo Le Fée and co as they constantly demanded the ball and attempted, albeit forlornly to pull off the most unlikely of comebacks. Although Le Fée’s late shot forced Sels into a splendid flying save nothing could blemish a wonderful evening for Forest, who secured a fifth goal through Elliot Anderson in the 95th minute, quite possibly prompting sleepless nights in north and east London.