RabiuForest players react to dominant 5-0 rout at Sunderland
Three Nottingham Forest players reacted to a big 5-0 win for the team against Sunderland. The team are now on 39 points in the Premier League, eight clear of 18th placed Tottenham, and they have built belief ahead of their two-legged Europa League semi-final tie against Aston Villa.
‘We’re settled now’
Fresh from a hat-trick against Burnley, Morgan Gibbs-White would get his name on the act as the Tricky Trees netted four goals in the first half at the Stadium of Light on an evening to remember.
“Special, I didn’t think we could top the other day but we’ve done it again. Credit to the boys and the confidence and belief we have in the dressing room right now going into games.”
Most of it comes from the gaffer, showing belief in his layers and giving us confidence in training sessions that we can put on good performances. We’ve always known we have that character, it’s been a difficult season at the start but we’re settled now. We’ve got a good way of playing and we understand each other. The boys put on an incredible performance.
“At the start of the season we didn’t really have [Chris], he wasn’t fit, and he was always my go to. This season we had that different scenario so I try to hit the box more. I’ve been practicing in training and it’s been paying off in games so I’m delighted. He’s had a tough period, being out for so long.
“Had a few games back but hasn’t had that goal so the first thought in my mind was to pass him the ball. He deserves it, he’s worked hard to come back ready for the end of the season to help the boys. I had no doubt he would tuck it away. When he took the touch I thought he was offside. But striker’s instinct they know where to be at the right time. As soon as I passed to him I knew he would score.
“My role in the set pieces is to get a block on a couple of people, I’m not the biggest threat in the box but I try to find a bit of space. Luckily enough it went back post, and I was screaming at Igor Jesus to pass it back and it was a perfect header and I just slotted it in.”
My full focus is on getting Forest safe and seeing how far we can get in the Europa League. I can only control what I can control and that’s my performances here and then if I focus on that then what will be will be.
“Always work to be done – no game in the league is easy. We have a real tough run of games. We have to keep focussed and hopefully it will all take care of itself. We’re putting ourselves in a good position right now. You can see from the boy’s performances that everyone is feeling confident.
“We’re going into the [Europa League semi-final] wanting to win and perform well. Hopefully we can get the job done. To be able to get to a final and give that to the fans would be incredible.”
‘Confidence is good’
Chris Wood would pounce on a Robin Roefs mistake at the back to bag the second goal of the game for the guests on Friday night. It was a massive moment for a player who spent six months on the sidelines and has been rehabbing from knee surgery that he had undertaken in December 2025.
The veteran admitted the problem will require careful management for the rest of his life, but he is eager to make the most of the opportunities available to him over the next few months of his career.
“The key was to build on what we did in the second half last week. We wanted to continue to build and get better and show what we are capable of. Starting fast and doing what we did today was fantastic. Confidence is good. It’s better when you score goals and when you score more and more then you get more confident. What a great win and that is what the main thing was tonight.
“For us it gives us a bit of breathing room, and it also puts a bit of pressure on the two [teams] chasing behind. Back-to-back wins do that for you, we’ll look to do that again after playing Aston Villa in the [Europa League], go to Chelsea and hope to get the same result.”
“[Elliot] an extraordinary man. The stuff him and his family have gone through over the past couple of weeks is truly heartbreaking and it takes big character and a strong bloke to come out and perform the way he did both last week and today. That goal was a tribute to his Mum and Helen is always in our thoughts.”
Elliot Anderson is another player who has faced adversity on a personal level this year. The England midfielder has been a mainstay in the Forest midfield, earning the trust of Thomas Tuchel as a starter next to Declan Rice. However, his mother recently passed away, offering a stark reminder that there are things more important than the game in the lives of these professionals. Scoring the last goal of the game in injury time of the second half, Anderson commemorated the strike to his late mother.
“We are on a good run at the minute. It’s taken a while, but we fully believe in ourselves. The manager is right behind us and we are enjoying it. Really happy with [the goal], and really happy to score here as well. I just know that my Mum would have been really proud with that one so I’m happy.
“It’s good to have [Chris] back and for him to score. I was speaking to him the other day and he said when you come back from injury and score you get huge confidence, so I’m really happy for him.”
