Nottingham Forest thrashed Brighton 7-0 at the City Ground Sunday, rebounding strongly from a heavy defeat at Bournemouth the previous weekend.
Chris Wood scored a hat trick throughout the contest. Jude Bellingham hailed Forest striker Wood after the win, which brought his season record to 17 goals.
Stuart Pearce praised Anthony Elanga after the game. The Swedish forward contributed three assists to the Reds’ triumph and is currently in excellent form.
It’s difficult to imagine anyone being upset with yesterday’s performance. Some former players appear to have been impressed, with Brice Samba paying close attention to the contest.
Brice Samba offers three-word statement following Nottingham Forest’s triumph.
The promotion-winning goalie had a successful few years on Trentside, and his antics were always popular with the club’s fans.
Following yesterday’s victory, he took to Instagram to share three words, and Forest fans will appreciate that he was watching the game while preparing for his next match with Rennes.
Samba commented, “What a season,” and it’s apparent that despite leaving when the club was promoted back to the Premier League, he still keeps an eye on the team’s fortunes on the pitch.
Samba was linked with a move back to Forest earlier this season. However, with Matz Sels performing admirably during the 2024/25 season, the demand for a goalkeeper during the transfer window has diminished significantly.
Matz Sels stats versus Brighton
With Samba watching from home, he would have been impressed by Sels, who made two outstanding stops in the first half to deny Brighton.
| Matz Sels stats vs Brighton | Total |
| Minutes | 90 |
| Saves | 6 |
| Passes | 26 |
| Who Scored Rating | 8.08 |
He pushed a Danny Welbeck shot over the crossbar before making a wonderful stop to deny Yankuba Minteh when it appeared he would score easily.
Sels and Samba are extremely different goalkeepers. Both have strengths and flaws, with the current Forest goalkeeper keeping ten clean sheets this season.
Samba would have been a romantic addition to the Forest’s roster. However, the ship appears to have sailed, and the player appears to be well-settled in France, where he routinely plays for Rennes.
