EFL Championship 2021/22: How Nottingham Forest suffocated West Bromwich Albion – tactical analysis

On Easter Monday, Steve Coopers Nottingham Forest hosted Steve Bruces West Bromwich Albion side. A win would be crucial for each side. Forest needed the three points to sustain their push for a playoff place this Championship season. In their most recent game, Forest lost to Luton in a big blow for their hopes of promotion to the Premier League. Therefore, Forest needed to bounce back with a win. West Brom needed a win to be in contention for the playoff places as they were six points behind sixth-place Sheffield United.

Forest would end up as winners in a 4-0 destruction of West Brom.

West Broms zonal marking, Darnell Furlongs poor game and an excellent team Forest performance made it impossible for the Baggies to achieve any sense of control in the game.

This article features the tactical analysis of the game and discusses the tactics used by both teams and how Forest dominated West Brom.

Lineups

Steve Cooper made two changes from Forests loss to Luton Town on Good Friday. Lewis Grabban had an illness that left him unavailable, and Aston Villa loanee Keinan Davis is out for the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury. Forest replaced Grabban and Davis with Philip Zinckernagel and Sam Surridge.

Steve Bruce made three changes from West Broms 2-1 win over Blackpool. Former Arsenal defender Semi Ajayi was replaced by Kyle Bartley. Callum Robinson and Jason Molumby were benched for Conor Townsend and Alex Mowatt.

Forests intense pressing

Throughout the match, Forest pressed high up the pitch. Brennan Johnson and Sam Surridge were harassing the West Brom backline from the first minute. This pressure left West Brom with a much more arduous task of playing out from the back.

One example of Forests pressing was j