Vitor Pereira bows to Morgan Gibbs-White as Nottingham Forest thrash Burnley 4-1 | OneFootball

Morgan Gibbs-White hit a hat-trick as Nottingham Forest overpowered Burnley 4-1 at the City Ground, a pivotal result in their survival bid. As he left with the match ball, head coach Vitor Pereira mimed a bow towards his No.10.

Forest were flat before the break and trailed to Zian Flemming’s strike, with Pereira heading down the tunnel early to sketch changes before replacing Dilane Bakwa with Igor Jesus. Gibbs-White flipped the contest with three in 15 minutes and Jesus added a late fourth. Nottingham Post notes this capped a week lit by a Europa League quarter-final win over Porto and the promise of a semi-final.

Pereira later said the message was simple, score twice and concede nothing, and he likened the staff to a GPS guiding the team. With tension high after Tottenham’s 2-2 draw opened the door to move five points clear, the equaliser released the City Ground and momentum flowed one way.

Elliot Anderson chose to play after his mother died earlier in the week, embodying the dressing room’s resilience. He carried flowers to the centre circle before kick-off, with Neco Williams placing a No.8 shirt bearing the word mum, and then delivered a tireless 90 minutes.

The victory leaves Forest with breathing space, Tottenham in 18th now require a two-result swing. There is no scope for complacency, Friday’s trip to Sunderland offers the chance to lay a marker before rivals return. Pereira allowed himself a smile afterwards, saying he had earned a cold beer.

Source: Nottingham Post