Dyche hails ´shift in mentality´ at Forest after late win over West Ham

Sean Dyche hailed Nottingham Forest’s recent “shift in mentality”, which he believes helped them beat West Ham on Monday.

In a clash between 17th and 18th in the Premier League, Forest emerged 2-1 victors to move seven points clear of the bottom three.

Morgan Gibbs-White scored the winner from the penalty spot in the 89th minute, after the Forest captain was clattered inside the area by Alphonse Areola.

Indeed, only Chris Wood (37) and Bryan Roy (24) have scored more Premier League goals for Forest than Gibbs-White (22), who has converted all four penalties he’s taken in the competition.

Murillo’s own goal had Forest behind at the break. It was the 103rd time Forest had trailed at half-time in a Premier League game but just the second time they had come back to win (D19 L82), with their other victory coming back in January 1997 against Tottenham.

Dyche was delighted with his side’s mentality at the London Stadium, but insisted the job is far from done.

“Well, [I’m] pleased obviously. Pleased with the mentality of the players,” Dyche told Sky Sports.

“Awkward game for both sides and a lot of noise around the game. To go 1-0 down and stay calm and deliver a second half that can win the game is very pleasing.

“You have got to find a way and we found a way tonight. There is more to come from this group. You still have to find a way. The game is rarely the perfect game for you. There was been a shift in mentality, and I am pleased with that.

“There is still work to be done. My job is to go through that noise and see the facts of it.”

Composure. pic.twitter.com/GQTPtTZEAD

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) January 6, 2026

West Ham (D4 L6), meanwhile, have now gone 10 consecutive top-flight games without a victory for the first time since a run of 11 between December 2006 and March 2007.

In addition, only Bournemouth (16) have dropped more points from winning positions in the Premier League this season than West Ham (15), but Nuno Espirito Santo is not giving up hope in their fight for safety.

In an interview with BBC Match of the Day and Sky Sports, he said: “Very tight margins and a goal ruled out that we had that would put us in front.

“Then a lot of incidents with the penalty – a tough match. I think we did enough things to win the match. The boys worked very hard. I think we did enough to win it.

“We have to keep going, keep believing, and keep working. It is not over.

“You know me. I’ll keep on going, believing and working with the boys. Sometimes you have good moments and bad moments, but you need to be resilient enough to understand that this is the game.”