Hammer blow for Forest in late collapse

REDS STUNNED AS VISITORS SCORE THREE IN CLOSING STAGES

- By SARAH CLAPSON

NOTTINGHAM Forest fell to their first defeat of the Premier League campaign as they were thumped 3-0 at home by West Ham United on a poor afternoon Trentside.

The Reds went into the game on the banks of the Trent eager to maintain their unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign. By contrast, the Hammers were aiming to ease the pressure on boss Graham Potter, whose position was under increasing scrutiny after his side were thrashed by Sunderland and Chelsea in the Premier League and knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Wolves in midweek.

Potter's opposite number Nuno Espirito Santo has had a tumultuous past fortnight of his own after admitting his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis had become strained and the pair are set for clear-the-air talks during the international break.