Nottinghamshire

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Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Periera, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "The three points is the most important thing. Keeping in mind, we played a tough game three days ago. Our first half we found it difficult to find the spaces and movements. At half-time we had a talk about changing the dynamics and attacking different spaces. Demanding the spirit and character and fight. In the end, a very good second half. I am happy with it."

On captain Morgan Gibbs-White: "He is leading by example. I know a lot of [captains] that speak and speak, but it proves nothing. I didn't feel he was at his best level in the first half but he did fantastic in the second half.

"Even when we are in bad moments, we feel the energy from the supporters, and we create spirit in the team to face problems. The second half was a big example that we are alive and ready to fight until the last game to reach our target."

On Murillo, who came off injured: "I don't know. He needs to do a scan. Talking with him, I don't think it's serious. We'll see."

Nottingham Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "A massive three points. We knew how important this game was coming into it. The first half was a bit nervous, tense. The words from the gaffer was to give it everything out there. Whatever will be, will be. They boys came out fighting, took our chances when we needed to and controlled the game.

"The first [chance] I was a bit erratic, I knew for the second one to take a touch and be a bit more composed. When the third went in, it was a delight. My first career hat-trick. I am over the moon, but more importantly, we got the win, and we have that gap."

On Elliot Anderson: "He is massive for us, and his decision to come back in is down to him - and it came out today as the right decision. It is a horrible moment right now, that's it."

Did you know?

• Nottingham Forest have won after trailing at half time at home in the Premier League for the first time since 19th January 1997 against Tottenham Hotspur (23 games without a win after trailing at half time).

• Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White has scored 12 Premier League goals this season, his most ever in a league campaign (excluding play-offs) – since the start of March, no Premier League player has scored more times than the Englishman across all competitions (7).

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Going into their Europa League quarter-final with Porto, Nottingham Forest were entering their season-defining period.

Fast forward 10 days and they are in the last four of a European competition for the first time in 42 years having also claimed four crucial points in their battle against relegation.

Morgan Gibbs-White's hat-trick was the catalyst against Burnley and Forest's star man produced when his team desperately needed it.

This week - after a draw with Aston Villa and the quarter-final second-leg victory over Porto on Thursday - should give Forest the final platform for survival.

This win leaves Vitor Pereira's side closing in on safety and still with a chance of European glory.

A first home league win since the 3-0 victory over Tottenham in December should also ease the anxiety at the City Ground.

The nerves were evident after Zian Flemming's first-half opener at the end of a wretched first half which lacked intensity and imagination.

With the loss of Murillo - who limped on to the pitch to celebrate at the final whistle - Forest's afternoon could have fallen apart. But impressive resilience and recovery rescued them to earn a vital win at the bottom.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Forest's performance

What did you make of Burnley's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Elliot Anderson returns to the Nottingham Forest starting line up after the sad passing of his mother Helen.

Matz Sels and Nikola Milenkovic also return following the 1-0 Europa League win over Porto on Thursday, which booked a semi-final with Aston Villa.

Dilane Bakwa also makes his first Premier League start for Forest since January.

Nottingham Forest XI: Sels, Aina, Murillo, Milenkovic, Williams, Sangare, Anderson, Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Bakwa, Wood.

Subs: Ortega, Morato, Awoniyi, Dominguez, Igor Jesus, Yates, Cunha, McAtee, Netz.

Kyle Walker starts for Burnley as Scott Parker makes one change for the trip to the City Ground.

Bashir Humphreys drops to the bench while James Ward-Prowse returns to Forest, having played 10 games on loan last season.

Defeat would leave Burnley 12 points from safety with just five games left.

Burnley XI: Dubravka, Walker, Ekdal, Esteve, Hartman, Ward-Prowse, Florentino, Edwards, Ugochukwu, Anthony, Flemming.

Subs: Weiss, Worrall, Bruun Larsen, Foster, Humphreys, Tchaouna, Broja, Laurent, Tresor.

This is Nottingham Forest's biggest game of the season.

It's a great chance for them to get three points, but gosh this is going to be nervy - it is going to be a very tense afternoon but they just have to find a way to win, it doesn't matter how.

Burnley are done now, they are going down - but that might not help Forest because it could see Scott Parker's side play with more freedom.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

There are four games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Aston Villa v Sunderland

• Everton v Liverpool

• Nottingham Forest v Burnley

• Man City v Arsenal (16:30 BST)

Kick-off times 14:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction to the early games here and the late match here

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Nottingham Forest's elation at reaching a first European semi-final since 1984 will be short-lived if they don't follow it by putting points on the board against second-bottom Burnley at the City Ground on Sunday (14:00 GMT).

Forest could yet be felled

Vitor Pereira's side set up an all-English Europa League last four clash against Aston Villa with a tense 1-0 win over Porto on Thursday – the Portuguese head coach's first home win in six attempts since he was appointed on 15 February.

The prospect of relegation on the domestic front, however, is still a very real one. The Reds, currently 16th, could find themselves in the relegation zone by Sunday night if they lose and West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur both win.

An impotent Forest attack has registered just 14 goals in 16 home league games this season, failing to find the net in five of their last seven. It's their lowest goals-per-game record at home (0.88) in a league season since 1996-97 (0.79).

Elliot Anderson missed the win over Porto due to the death of his mother, Helen, and it remains to be seen if the England star will be available for selection. Pereira told reporters after the game: "We are here to help him and we will see if he can play the next game."

The Tricky Trees, who are unbeaten in six in all competitions, could do with his industry in midfield in a game like this. Anderson has won possession 10 or more times in 10 Premier League games this season; the most in Europe's big five leagues in 2025-26 and more than three times as often as any of his opponents in this country.

Clarets sinking

With just one win in their past 23 league games – against Crystal Palace on 11 February – it has been a miserable campaign for Burnley.

The Clarets, facing their third relegation from the top flight in five seasons, are this decade's best example of a Premier League yo-yo club; too good for the Championship but unable to cut it in the top tier.

Unlike bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers, 19th-placed Burnley's relegation cannot be confirmed this weekend and head coach Scott Parker has pledged that his team will "keep fighting between now and the end of the season".

They've conceded 63 goals, the most in the division, which is perhaps no surprise when you look at some of their related defensive numbers.

Twinned with those defensive struggles has been a similarly tough time in front of goal. While they aren't the lowest scorers in the league – Wolves and Forest are both worse off in that regard – Burnley have managed the fewest shots of any side, with 297 (an average of 9.3 per game).

Among teams to have played 30 or more games under a single manager since such records began in 2003-04, Scott Parker's Burnley have had the joint-fewest attempts of any team under one boss, along with Paul Clement's Swansea City and Chris Wilder's Sheffield United.

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Vitor Pereira says Nottingham Forest have been "mentally consistent" and the trait is proving key in them developing an unbeaten run.

The Reds are six games without a loss in all competitions, culminating in Thursday's fine win over Porto to reach the last four of the Europa League.

Sunday, however, brings the visit of Burnley - a crucial fixture which could haul Forest further away from the bottom three.

They currently sit three points clear and, asked if this is a "must-win" game by BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray, Pereira said: "This is not about words, speeches. It's about going there to fight, play, have confidence and have the energy of our supporters. To play together against Burnley.

"Six games without losing means we are consistent. I am not talking tactically, as tactically we are changing a lot - players, the system - we need to change. But, in the end, we are in this moment consistent mentally. This is the most important, to be mentally consistent, to compete and compete again until the last game."

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Burnley have one win in 12 in all competitions and have no realistic margin for error if they are to pull themselves back from the relegation brink given their 12-point gap to safety.

Pereira expects some fitness challenges for the fixture given Thursday's night's intense encounter with Porto but he insists the significance of the victory plays a role.

"I believe that the recovery is easier when we win," he explained. "The motivation is different, the spirit is different. I will see happy players and it's easier to recover and prepare.

"The next game will be very important for us. We need to face it with the same spirit - working hard, trying to play in our way. We know it will be tough and we will face a team that has quality."

You can listen to Forest v Burnley here on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

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Join David Jackson, Brian Laws, joyous Forest fans and manager Vitor Pereira on a special episode of Shut Up And Show More Football as Nottingham Forest reach the Europa League semi-finals with victory over Porto.

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