Nuno Espirito Santo’s flying men got off Saturday’s away encounter with style, ruthlessly finishing off their opponents in just six minutes 38 seconds with three quick-fire goals in a 4-2 win, leaving their host stunned as they stared relegation in the face.
The possibility of playing Champions League football is no longer just a dream – it’s a reality. And the three thousand jubilant away fans inside the Portman Road Stadium could feel it – after 30 years of literally nothing close to the smell of European football – it is close – it is here.
The first 35 minutes looked even until a loss of concentration after a badly cleared corner, allowing Callum Hudson-Odoi to pick out Nicolas Dominguez at the far post.
Dominguez’s knock-down for Nikola Milenkovic was fired home brilliantly by the big defender in what was, at the time, only the second shot on target of the game.
A little over two minutes later, Leif Davis was caught upfield by Anthony Elanga who finished off his solo run with a fine curling finish – setting Forest on their way to victory.
Elanga slid home his second of the day when a long ball was allowed to bounce by Jacob Greaves – adding a third four minutes after the second goal, with Ipswich still stunned come the half-time whistle.
Ipswich improved their game early in the first half to give the home fans hope -changing to a back five – but they still struggled to find a way through until Jens Cajuste’s fine finish left Matz Sels with no chance eight minutes from the end.
The game saw further goals scored by both sides in the dying embers, as Jota Silva tapped home from Morgan Gibbs-White’s fine pass before George Hirst nodded in a second for the hosts in added time from some unconventional poor Forest defending.
Ipswich head coach Kieran McKenna cut a frustrated figure, indicating to Sky Sports how impossible it was to come back from “three poor goals in short succession”,
“It was a really frustrating game, result, everything. Three really poor goals in short succession, in a tight game with nothing really in it.
“That made it a near-impossible challenge at half-time. When goals go in like that, it’s really hard to accept and deliver the performance you want and the result.” – Kieran Mckenna
However, the Forest manager Nuno, who had the last laugh, calmly enjoying himself from the dugout heaped praise on England midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White for his outstanding performance while imploring him to “continue like this” even after missing out on Thomas Tuchel England call-up.
“Morgan has to do his job, he’s been fantastic for us all season and he’s such a talented player.
“I want to see him continue like this because if circumstances are normal he will get back in the squad for sure,” said Nuno Espirito Santo.
Nuno and Forest are the big surprise this season. None could predict this consistent run of form -not to mention achieving Champions League football.
But this shows “The Tricky Trees” meant business when they first defeated Liverpool during the early stage of the season.
Trashing Ipswich 4-2 away from home is only a testament to how humble they’ve been, and consistently adapting a more pragmatic approach to every game – deserved.
