How Nottingham Forest secured Premier League survival thanks to Pereira impact and Anderson magic | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest sealed Premier League safety with a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United at the City Ground, confirmed by West Ham’s later defeat to Arsenal.

Elliot Anderson, facing his boyhood club, struck late after a driving run and marked it with a heart gesture towards the sky. Vitor Pereira later said the midfielder’s mother, Helen, had been buried only days earlier.

Pereira had already used a first-half stoppage to change from a back three to a four, moving Jair Cunha to right-back, Neco Williams to the left and pushing Luca Netz on. After the break Harvey Barnes put Newcastle ahead, then Anderson combined with James McAtee to level.

Forest were running on fumes after a brutal week that included a Europa League semi-final exit and a 4-0 loss at Aston Villa, and injuries stretched resources. Morgan Gibbs-White, Ibrahim Sangare, Murillo and Ola Aina were missing.

Pereira has rebuilt unity and confidence, and has been decisive with tweaks and substitutions. Forest are eight unbeaten in the league, their longest Premier League sequence for more than 30 years, since a 25-game run from February to November 1995.

Dilane Bakwa and Netz are showing encouraging form and maybe both can play bigger roles next term. Two matches remain and Pereira wants a strong finish, while he questioned a schedule of Monday, Thursday and Sunday as Tottenham and Leeds play on Monday without midweek games.

Source: Nottingham Post