Nottingham Forest's battle for Premier League survival looks like going right down to the wire
11:10, 14 Apr 2026
Head coach Vitor Pereira speaks to his Nottingham Forest players during the draw with Aston Villa
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Head coach Vitor Pereira speaks to his Nottingham Forest players during the draw with Aston Villa(Image: PA)
It is getting very tense at the bottom end of the table as Nottingham Forest prepare for a six-game shootout in the battle for Premier League survival.
In their first league game back after the international break, the Reds claimed what could prove to be a crucial 1-1 draw with Aston Villa at the City Ground on Sunday. Vitor Pereira’s side showed plenty of fight and character as they came from behind to clinch a big point.
There remains little margin for error in the scrap to beat the drop, however. Forest are three points clear of the bottom three and are well aware they still have plenty of work to do.
Leeds United put themselves in a strong position to secure safety as their 2-1 victory over Manchester United on Monday night moved them six points clear of the dreaded dotted line. West Ham United thumped Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 last Friday and are just one point below the Reds.
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Tottenham Hotspur currently occupy 18th spot. There was no new manager bounce for them on Sunday as Roberto De Zerbi’s tenure kicked off with a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland.
No doubt there will be plenty of twists and turns still to come in this particular dogfight. Below is a look at what pundits, managers and fans have been saying about the relegation battle.
The pundits
Gary Neville on Sky Sports after Leeds’ win at Old Trafford: "Before the game, I was looking at West Ham over the weekend and Nottingham Forest and thinking that they've got something going a little bit. It looks like they might just have enough to get out of it.
“Tottenham are in big trouble, and you're thinking Leeds could just get dragged down there. They've got some decent fixtures and it's not been good, but I thought they put a really good performance in today. Every time I've watched them live, they've been really good, not just in terms of their passion, their commitment but the patterns, the way in which they've got their system worked out.”
He added: "First half tonight, they (Leeds) were absolutely wonderful. That is a performance that I don't think Tottenham are capable of. That's the scary thing for Tottenham, not just the six points that Leeds United have gone clear of them tonight, but the actual performance levels that they put in - they're nowhere near that.
"Overall, it was a wonderful night for them (Leeds) and I think that does secure Premier League survival for Leeds United this season because of the confidence that they'll get from that.”
Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports after Leeds’ victory: "For the majority of this season, they've been a breath of fresh air in the Premier League. They've been absolutely fantastic. But how they performed in the first half tonight will send a shiver down the spines of everyone in that relegation fight.
"Those teams down there, they would have been watching tonight - the supporters, players and staff - and that will be a big blow for them psychologically. That was the performance of a really good team. When we go back to Tottenham, we haven't seen a performance like that from them in about six months."
Reds great Stan Collymore on X: “I'm calling 42 points to be absolutely safe with 40 the base to be "confident". That would mean Spurs having to win 4 of their final 6 games (possible of course) to reach the higher limit or 50% of their matches to get to 39 points.
Because Spurs have undoubted quality, I'm calling 42. Get there ASAP and your safe. Anything below and your chancing it.”
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The managers
Forest head coach Vitor Pereira after Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Villa: “This is the time to show talent and character because talent is not enough. We need to show character and the spirit of a fighter and of a champion, without complaint.
“I listened to something very interesting this week, and I know teams and players prefer to be victims. We prefer to be warriors and fighters and fight every day. Even when we make mistakes, it helps us move forward and take another step. With responsibility and spirit we will fight until the last game.”
Leeds boss Daniel Farke after victory over Manchester United on Monday: “We’re working a little bit to get rid of this old narrative that ‘Leeds are falling apart again’. It feels like under pressure we really deliver. Nothing is achieved yet, I’m not over confident or celebrating.
“We’re proud of the win, but don’t forget where we’re coming from. We have to stay on it. I don’t want to celebrate too much.”
Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi after Sunday’s loss to Sunderland: “First of all, the players of Tottenham are all good guys, and they are suffering for this moment. They are not happy when we lose the game or they are not happy to see Tottenham at the bottom of the table, for sure.
“But we have to find the energy, we have to find the right spirit to be positive, to think during the week when they stay with me. For sure, they will see a positive coach because I believe in their qualities.
“Because we are Tottenham, but we have not (got the right) to win the game just because we are Tottenham. You can't win the game with the paper. You have to win the game showing the quality on the pitch, the fighting on the pitch.
“You have to score the goal, and you have not to concede the goal, for sure. But they are human, and they are suffering maybe too much and altogether we have to stay close, to be positive, to work, to improve in the details, in the football, but to be better as a mentality.”
Hammers boss Nuno Espirito Santo after beating Wolves last Friday night: “We spoke after the game and the way we did it tonight proved to ourselves that we cannot give up. That was the team spirit from the beginning. Never give up, we are in the fight.
“I realise we have a lot of work to do yet. We made a big step today, important for us, but nothing has changed."
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The fans
What Reds fans had to say about Sunday’s draw and their team’s survival chances on NottinghamshireLive’s Forest Facebook page…
Lee Beech: Great point… turned over to watch the spurs players in tears, they know they’re in big trouble no new manager bounce
Richard Stoney: Anything against Villa this season is like a win, especially with Spurs losing. Good point. 3 points now essential against Burnley
Chris Coles: It was a fantastic point against a very good Villa team. How on earth some people can criticise is beyond me. This was a game we could easily have lost but didn't. I'm very happy to be where we are now.
Paul Slaney: We need at least 2 wins and hopefully a draw or two out of these 6 games. It’s going to be hard. Hopefully a win v Burnley, other than that I’m not sure.
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Karen Goodson: Need so much more than a draw, it could have been 3 points, if not for the own goal. Forest just loves making us sweat.
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