West Ham’s relegation rivals Nottingham Forest booked their place in the [Europa League](https://www.claretandhugh.info/europa-league-bio/) quarter-finals after edging past FC Midtjylland in a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
Forest rotated heavily for the clash against the Danes, but it’s hard not to conclude that an extended run in Europe could hinder their survival bid. Wishful thinking from a West Ham fan, perhaps, but anything that distracts from their relegation fight and keeps them travelling and playing twice a week has to be seen as a positive.
The mass rotation was a bold call from boss Vítor Pereira, who made sweeping changes ahead of their Premier League six-pointer with Tottenham Hotspur this weekend. That fixture could play a significant part in the Hammers’ survival hopes because any result there, combined with a [West Ham win against Villa](https://www.claretandhugh.info/?p=145768), would lift us out of the bottom three.
European Distraction Could Aid West Ham Survival Bid
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Pereira opted to rest several key players, making nine changes from the side that faced Fulham, clearly prioritising freshness for what he sees as a defining league fixture in the relegation battle.
Despite the heavy rotation, Forest held their nerve to come through the European tie, with the shoot-out victory keeping their continental hopes alive.
Speaking after the match, Pereira insisted he had little choice but to shuffle his pack, stating he did what he “must do” with the Tottenham showdown looming large.