Five Star Forest Thrash West Ham

Nottingham Forest ran riot against a dismal second-string West Ham team thanks to a magnificent hat-trick from youngster Jamie Paterson.

Abdoun scores a delicious penalty.

Sam Allardyce's 3-5-2 system failed to control a free-flowing Forest who bossed the midfield, running out eventual 5-0 victors. Abdoun converted a spot-kick to give Forest the lead before Paterson converted three chances in quick succession to take the game out of sight. Right at the death Andy Reid put the icing on the cake with a powerful finish from close range.

With one eye on their midweek Capital One Cup Semi-final against Manchester City, Allardyce fielded a youthful team, making nine changes to the side that lost to Fulham on New Year's Day, whilst Billy Davies fielded a full strength team.

Forest took the lead eleven minutes into the game through an audacious Abdoun penalty chipped down the centre of the goal. The penalty came after young Jamie Paterson's quick feet caught out debutant George Moncur who tripped him inside the area.

A Ravel Morrison free-kick called Nottingham keeper Darlow into action, forcing a flying save out of him but that was as close as West Ham came all game. Moments later Forest had another penalty shout, this one correctly turned down.

Hat-trick hero Jamie Paterson

Forest were in complete control of the game, dominating the midfield and this showed with a whole host of chances; Lascelles testing Adrian from range before saving a point-blank Halford header. Lichaj then had a one-on-one well saved as Forest struggled to turn chances into goals.

The second half continued much the same as the first half ended, Forest in the ascendancy but with no end product. This has been the story of Forest's season, conceding a number of late equalizers throughout the season at Reading and at home to Bournemouth to name but a few.

Today was a totally different story however, as a fourteen minute hat-trick from Paterson killed off any chance of a West Ham response. The trickery and quick feet of Paterson allowed him to slot in three cultured finishes from inside the box to net his first goals since moving from Walsall in the summer.

A dejected Big Sam walking away

Allardyce's woes didn't end there, as Andy Reid made it a five star performance after converting the fifth goal of the game after an attacking run from Abdoun down the left. Forest could have compounded the misery even more as Cox missed a number of late chances after coming on for the had-working Halford.

After being drawn against either Ipswich or Preston in the next round, Forest will be confident they can get a cup run going alongside their push for promotion. Allardyce, on the other hand, will be eagerly awaiting the return from injury of a number of key players, including their talisman Andy Carroll, as they battle to avoid the drop.