SUPER Eagles of Nigeria striker Taiwo Awoniyi was on target as Nottingham Forest gave their hopes of English Premier League survival a huge boost with a 2-0 victory at Brentford today.
Goals from Igor Jesus and Awoniyi proved decisive in a win that moved Forest level on points with 16th-placed Leeds United, but crucially five clear of third-from-bottom West Ham.
Brentford began brightly and were unlucky not to open the scoring after just 94 seconds with Igor Thiago poking wide.
But the visitors struck in the 12th minute when Igor Jesus found the far corner in style after initially controlling on his chest before swivelling and volleying beyond Caoimhin Kelleher.
Forest had won just three of their previous 11 away Premier League games prior today’s encounter and retreated into their shell after going in front as nerves started settled in.
Substitute Sepp van den Berg, who replaced injured defender Kristoffer Ajer in the 37th minute, was inches away from an equaliser on the stroke of half-time after heading narrowly wide.
With time running out, Brentford were caught on the counter when Awoniyi showed strength to hold off a defender before finishing through Kelleher’s legs for his first league goal in a year, 11 minutes after coming on.
At Selhurst Park, Estevao Willian replaced the injured Cole Palmer and inspired a comfortable 3-1 win over Crystal Palace that moved Chelsea back into the Premier League’s top four.
Goals from Estevao, Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernandez earned the points at Selhurst Park, while Palace’s England midfielder Adam Wharton was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in the space of six second‑half minutes.
Chris Richards headed in a consolation goal from close range late on.
Palace had looked the more likely to score first early in the match.
Striker Jean‑Philippe Mateta, linked with Aston Villa and Juventus, went one‑on‑one with Robert Sanchez but hit his shot straight at the Chelsea goalkeeper.
Fernandez and Caicedo had efforts for Chelsea, with returning Palace winger Ismaila Sarr, fresh from winning the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Senegal, having an attempt at the other end before Estevao opened the scoring in the 34th minute.
He latched on to a poor back-pass from Jaydee Canvot, used his pace to escape marker Tyrick Mitchell and drove a firm shot past Dean Henderson.
The 18-year-old Brazilian had a further attempt before the interval and after the break he clipped a pass to forward Joao Pedro, who turned Palace midfielder Wharton, before shooting through Henderson to double the advantage.
After a lengthy check by the video assistant referee (VAR), Chelsea were then awarded a penalty – Joao Pedro’s goalbound effort having struck Canvot’s hand inside the box – and Fernandez converted.
Minutes after earning a first yellow card for pulling Caicedo, Wharton was late in a tackle, earned his second booking and was sent off.
It was a miserable afternoon for Palace despite Richards heading in from a corner in the 88th minute as they dropped from 13th to 15th, eight points above the relegation zone.
New Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior has overseen back-to-back Premier League wins, the first time they have managed that since November, in his first two top-flight matches since replacing Enzo Maresca.
Chelsea leapfrogged Liverpool back into the top four, although they have played one game more than Manchester United, who travel to Arsenal later in the day.
Also today, Emiliano Buendia and Ollie Watkins both scored as high-flying Aston Villa ended their long wait for a 2-0 St James’ Park victory against Newcastle United.
The visitors had not triumphed on Tyneside since an infamous afternoon in 2005, when Newcastle went down to eight men and team-mates Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer were both sent off for fighting each other.
But Unai Emery’s men have won more points on the road than any other Premier League side for a reason this season, and they showed their mettle away from home once again.
It was the rejuvenated Buendia who opened the scoring when the Argentine brilliantly scooped the ball past Nick Pope from outside the box to silence the stadium in the 19th minute.
Watkins then sealed the victory late on when the unmarked striker headed home from substitute Lucas Digne’s cross, leaving the away end singing in the rain as their side moved level on points with second-placed Manchester City.
That was the cue for a number of Newcastle supporters to make their way for the exits on a disappointing afternoon for their side, who would have moved ahead of champions Liverpool with a victory.
With agency reports