The celebrations at the final whistle showed just how important this victory was for Nottingham Forest.
It has been a difficult campaign for them since Nuno Espirito Santo placed them seventh in 2024-25, their best finish in 30 years.
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He was sacked in September before Ange Postecoglou stayed 39 days as Forest manager, then Sean Dyche became the team’s third of the season.
He has collected 13 points from his first eight matches in charge, although four successive league defeats had left him just four points clear of West Ham before Tuesday’s match.
Dyche and Forest fans would have feared the gap was closing in on a point, even though the visitors played well in the first half but were trailing until Murillo’s goal.
Neco Williams had a 20-yard effort superbly tipped over by Areola with the score goalless and Callum Hudson-Odoi was unlucky to see his shot bounce off the bar with the home keeper well beaten.
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But Forest equalized through Nicolas Dominguez within 10 minutes of the second half and had to survive some pressure before Morgan Gibbs-White kept his cool to score the winning penalty in the 89th minute.
Forest still have a lot of work to do to ensure their own safety, but these three points give them some breathing space.
