Nottinghamshire

Pat Riddell
Fan writer

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Morgan Gibbs-White's outstanding player of the match performance on Sunday for Nottingham Forest against Burnley, his second-half hat-trick the difference between the sides, was one of the outstanding highlights from the Premier League this weekend.

The 4-1 win topped off a remarkable week for the Reds, with two must-win games successfully delivered meaning a Europa League semi-final to look forward to - the first time we've reached this far in a European competition in 42 years - and a five-point gap above the relegation zone.

Gibbs-White's four goals in four days saw him turn Forest's season in the right direction while equalling Danny Welbeck's 12 goals in the Premier League - the two highest-scoring English players in the top flight this campaign.

But it was the player of the match against FC Porto and Aston Villa last week who is undoubtedly on the shortlist for the Reds' player of the season. Neco Williams has only missed one of Forest's 33 Premier League games this season and as the second-highest rated player this season, ranked just below Elliot Anderson, he equals the midfielder with three Premier League player of the match awards.

The Welshman has won the club's player of the month award four times this season and, aside from a knee-jerk reaction handball which saw his dismissal against Crystal Palace in February, it's hard to think of a game where he put a foot wrong.

Committed, dependable, versatile, consistent… the 25-year-old is up and down the left flank for almost the entirety of every game - his ability to tackle and defend his goal, as well as shoot, score and assist, means he's easily ranking among the Premier League's top full-backs.

Now contributing with set-pieces - our corners have not exactly been precise this season - Williams has seven, potentially eight, games left this season to secure a player of the season award. It's there for the taking.

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Sam Drury
BBC Sport journalist

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West Ham's draw against Crystal Palace on Monday night, means it is essentially 'as you were' in the battle against relegation, with Tottenham still two points from safety as they fight to avoid a first top-flight demotion since 1977.

Leeds and Nottingham Forest were the two big winners from the latest round of fixtures as both claimed big home wins to move eight and five points from the drop zone, respectively.

For Daniel Farke's Leeds side, that might prove to be enough and they will hope they soon find themselves excluded from the relegation conversation.

But, with Wolves now gone and Burnley set to follow, there is still work for all four sides to do in the coming weeks.

But for all De Zerbi's faith in his players' capabilities, the evidence of this season does not suggest a team capable of winning five on the bounce.

Spurs have not won any of their past 15 league games, meaning they are without a top-flight victory in 2026 and have managed only two since 26 October.

They must beat bottom side Wolves on Saturday to avoid equalling the club's worst-ever winless league run - set some 91 years ago, between 1934 and 1935.

By contrast, the form of Spurs' relegation rivals has been picking up.

Leeds have won back-to-back games to move to the brink of safety, Forest have two wins in their past three games and are unbeaten in five and West Ham have won two of their past five.

Zoom out a little further and the Hammers have taken 19 points from their past 12 games, Forest have 18 from their past 13 and for Leeds it's 18 from 14.

Since beating Palace on 28 December, Spurs have taken six points from 15 matches.

With five games remaining, Spurs will definitely think their run-in, at least on paper, gives them every chance of staying up.

Next up is a trip to Wolves, whose relegation to the Championship was confirmed on Monday night.

A home match against Leeds on 11 May is another Tottenham will view as an opportunity, especially if Daniel Farke's side have beaten Burnley at Elland Road in their previous game and essentially ensured their safety.

Even a tricky looking match at Champions League-chasing Aston Villa on 3 May comes at a good time for Spurs, as it falls between the two legs of the Europa League semi-final for Unai Emery's men.

A visit to rivals Chelsea before hosting Everton on the final day is not a straightforward way to finish given both teams seem likely to be fighting for European places.

But given how tight things are, that is something all the relegation candidates will have to deal with.

West Ham host Everton on Saturday before an away game at Brentford - and it only gets tougher with title-chasing Arsenal the visitors to London Stadium on 10 May.

Even with Newcastle enduring a disappointing season, an away game at St James' Park on the penultimate weekend is far from simple and there could be plenty riding on the home match against Leeds on the last day.

Forest arguably face the toughest last five with away games at Chelsea and Manchester United in May - the former coming just three days before the second leg of their Europa League semi-final against Villa.

Home games against Newcastle and Bournemouth, on the last day, could be crucial but getting a result at Sunderland on Friday would help alleviate a lot of stress for Vitor Pereira's side before the remainder of the run-in.

Read Sam's whole relegation debrief here

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Former Nottingham Forest defender James Perch says England boss Thomas Tuchel "can't ignore Morgan Gibbs-White too much longer" after the midfielder's "incredible" season for the club.

In all competitions, Gibbs-White has scored 15 goals and registered five assists - the fifth best of any player in the Premier League this campaign.

However, Gibbs-White was not included in Tuchel's recent 35-man squad for the friendlies with Uruguay and Japan and is down the pecking order for England's number 10s.

"I was one of those people that said he's a good player, but questioned whether he scores enough goals because he gets into good positions but doesn't always make the most of it," Perch told BBC Radio Nottingham. "But you can't argue with his numbers this season as 15 goals is brilliant.

"He also gets back and helps defensively so I can't heap enough praise on him. He has been unbelievable.

"He turns up in the big games and he can win games on his own. For an England call-up you have to ask whether he is doing more than Cole Palmer? And the answer is, yes. Is he doing more than Phil Foden? Yes.

"I don't know why he's not getting a call-up because he can't be doing any more than what he is doing.

"He's playing in a European semi-final and just won that game [against Burnley] with a hat-trick on his won. He is doing a lot more than some other number 10s.

"I don't know if it is a bit late for him to get a call-up now but in my eyes he deserves it.

"All he can do is perform for his club - and that is what he is doing - and Tuchel can't ignore him for too much longer."

Listen to Perch's thoughts on BBC Sounds

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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Burnley.

Here are some of your comments:

Forest fans

Ian: From unforgivably bad to ecstasy, you couldn't get two contrasting halves of football. Brian Clough said goals change games, and boy was he right in this game. Even the second half was nervy at first but our goal unlocked a freedom that was lacking. Credit to our manager, it sounds like he told them to drop their nerves and express themselves. Still lots of hard work ahead but keep calm and carry on!

Stephen: How can you go from utter garbage first half to absolute brilliance in the second half? Morgan Gibbs-White has carried us many times this season but this must go down as one of the best hat-tricks ever. Let's just hope that we don't have another first half like that and we might just avoid relegation.

James: Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. We've had no luck most of the year and now it's all coming our way. Another couple of wins out of the last five are needed though as Spurs looked a lot better.

Burnley fans

Dusty: Was at the game. Very poor other than passing back to the keeper which Burnley excel at. Just not good enough. Too many players are well below Premier League standard. Ekdal, Tchaouna, Florentino, Ugochukwu, Anthony in particular. Forest could score at will in the second half. Parker's tactics shown to be useless yet again. Where are the home grown players coming through the development team? No sign of any.

Paul: Sad and damning proof of how poor we have been all season. I fear for our prospects in the Championship next season under the same management.

Alan: When teams are in hopeless situations they can either fight or capitulate. Burnley have chosen the capitulation option. Impossible to see how the players that remain after the cull at the end of the season can be lifted and readied for the dog fight that is the Championship. League One here we come.

Steve: Complete capitulation in the second half, not one player has the passion or desire to win. Burnley are very short of a leader, both on and off the field.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter at the City Ground

It could be one of the biggest "what if" transfers.

Instead of scoring the goals to lift Nottingham Forest closer to safety, Morgan Gibbs-White could have been Tottenham's saviour.

Spurs thought they had their man last July but the transfer saga - during which Forest threatened legal action - could still have ramifications 10 months later.

The England international's first hat-trick in Sunday's 4-1 win over Burnley lifted Forest five points above the Premier League relegation zone with five games left and pushed Tottenham closer to the drop.

Gibbs-White also scored Forest's winner in Thursday's 1-0 Europa League quarter-final second-leg victory over Porto, which sent them through 2-1 on aggregate and set up a semi-final with Aston Villa.

It has left him on 15 goals in all competitions for Forest this season and the 26-year-old is proving the difference as Vitor Pereira's side look for survival ahead of Spurs.

Forest had problems at home in the league, having won only two of their previous 11 top-flight outings at the City Ground.

In that time they had scored nine goals, but six of them came in wins against Leeds and Tottenham.

They were without a win at home in the league since 14 December, when they beat Spurs 3-0, and needed someone to step up. Cue Gibbs-White.

"When I was watching the first half we were talking together. Morgan was not in his best condition," said Pereira.

"In the first half the team didn't find him in the right timings, spaces and didn't find him in the way we wanted.

"I asked them [at half-time], 'let's go to prove our quality and spirit'.

"He went in his pocket. He has a lot of talent in his pocket, a lot of team spirit and character, and he leads the team. I have leaders inside the team. They proved together we never give up."

Gibbs-White's treble - the first time he has scored more than once in a game since 2022 - made him the joint highest English scorer in the Premier League this season, on 12 with Brighton's Danny Welbeck.

It was also a reminder to England manager Thomas Tuchel before the World Cup after Gibbs-White was left out of the 35-man squad last month for games with Japan and Uruguay.

Pereira said: "He deserves it because he has the quality of a leader.

"When things are not happening in the way we want, when the team is struggling, I know a lot of players in this moment they prefer to hide themselves.

"This is not for Morgan. He wants the ball, wants the responsibility and wants to score goals and assist.

"He is a fantastic player for us, not only technically and tactically but about character."

Read more on Gibbs-White's fine form

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Former Nottingham Forest midfielder Andy Reid praised "catalyst" Morgan Gibbs-White for a "fantastic" second-half performance against Burnley in which he scored a hat-trick in 15 minutes.

Reid, who was at the City Ground for the Europa League win on Thursday and again on Sunday against the Clarets, told the Football Daily podcast: "Morgan Gibbs-White got hold of the game second-half and put in a fantastic performance and Forest ended up winning convincingly.

"It was a special individual performance, but it is no surprise because he has been a catalyst for them for so long when they have needed that someone to drag them up and through the doldrums. It has been him more often than not.

"Three brilliantly taken goals, but I don't feel that they are safe yet. There's still work to do."

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