Morgan Gibbs-White admits Forest face “difficult” spell after Villa defeat

Morgan Gibbs-White admitted Nottingham Forest are enduring a “difficult” period after their 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa, but insisted the squad have the mentality and experience required to steer clear of relegation trouble.

Forest suffered a fourth straight Premier League loss at Villa Park, with the result leaving them looking over their shoulder despite remaining four points clear of the bottom three.

Speaking after the match, Morgan Gibbs-White felt there were positives to take from Forest’s display against Aston Villa, particularly in the opening stages.

“I feel like we stuck to the game-plan in the first half,” he told Sky Sports, via the BBC. “There were lots of positives to take. I know we need points, but we showed a work ethic and desire.

“We always know Villa start with a high press, so the key was to absorb that pressure and silence the fans a bit. We were unfortunate to concede right before half-time.”

Gibbs-White briefly reignited Forest’s hopes by making it 2-1 just after the hour mark, but a costly error from goalkeeper John Victor soon allowed Villa to restore their two-goal cushion.

The defeat leaves Nottingham Forest four points above the drop zone, though pressure could increase depending on results elsewhere. West Ham United, currently 18th, have the chance to reduce that gap when they face Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Forest’s next league outing — away to West Ham next Tuesday — is therefore shaping up to be a pivotal fixture.

Despite the current form, Gibbs-White remains confident that Forest can navigate the challenge ahead under Sean Dyche.

“I am sure the gaffer is going to get us working this week,” he said. “We will have a game-plan and we’ll aim to get three points.

“It’s a difficult period. We’ve got games coming up, we just need to get points on the table. You want to be clear of it. We have been in this sort of battle before. We know what it takes to get out of it.”

Next week’s trip to the capital carries extra narrative, with Forest facing Nuno Espírito Santo for the first time since his departure from the City Ground earlier this season.

The Portuguese coach was dismissed by Forest in September before taking charge at West Ham shortly afterwards, adding further intrigue to a match with significant implications at the bottom end of the table.

Forest now face a crucial week as they prepare for a high-stakes clash with West Ham. With momentum against them but belief still intact, Dyche’s side know that a positive result could quickly change the outlook.

Is the West Ham fixture already a must-win for Nottingham Forest — or do they still have time to turn their season around?