Premier League: Forest edge closer to UCL spot with 4-2 win over Ipswich

Nottingham Forest reinforced their Champions League ambitions with a convincing victory over struggling Ipswich at Portman Road.

The win moves Forest within a point of second-placed Arsenal, who are set to face Chelsea on Sunday, further solidifying their presence in the top four.

On the day Nuno Espirito Santo marked his 50th Premier League match in charge of the club, his team capitalized on Ipswich’s defensive lapses with a ruthless first-half display.

The breakthrough came when Nikola Milenkovic fired home from eight yards after Ipswich forward Liam Delap unintentionally set him up with a misplaced header.

And just over two minutes later Forest doubled their lead, as the Tractor Boys imploded.

Elliot Anderson picked out Anthony Elanga down the right and the winger was allowed to run completely unchallenged from just inside the Ipswich half before dispatching a low effort into the far corner from 15 yards out.

Some shambolic home defending contributed to Elanga’s second and Forest’s third.

This time the 22-year-old Sweden winger nipped in between three home players and slipped the ball past Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer, after Milenkovic’s long punt forward had drifted over its intended target Chris Wood.

While Jens Cajuste pulled a goal back for the hosts, with a superb curling effort after pirouetting away from Ryan Yates in midfield, Jota Silva re-established Forest’s three-goal cushion after being played in by the influential Morgan Gibbs-White.

However, George Hirst’s late goal at least allowed the home side to end the contest on a positive note.

Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich remain 18th – and are the only club in the top four divisions of English football without a league win in 2025.