West Ham United secured their first Premier League victory of the campaign with a 3-0 triumph over Nottingham Forest on Sunday, with El Hadji Malick Diouf playing a decisive role by providing an assist.
The Hammers, who had opened the season with consecutive defeats to Sunderland and Chelsea, arrived at the City Ground under pressure to respond.
For much of the match, the contest remained tight, with both sides struggling to find a breakthrough.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 84th minute when Jarrod Bowen struck to give West Ham the lead.
That goal shifted the momentum firmly in favour of David Moyes’ side, and moments later Lucas Paquetá doubled the advantage from the penalty spot.
Any hopes of a late Forest fightback were extinguished in stoppage time.
Diouf, who had been lively throughout the game, capped his strong performance with a pinpoint cross that found Callum Wilson, who finished clinically to seal the 3-0 win.
The Senegalese midfielder’s contribution did not go unnoticed, with his creativity and composure proving vital in West Ham’s attacking play.
His assist for Wilson’s goal underlined his growing influence in the side, offering the kind of quality delivery the Hammers had been missing in their earlier matches.
For West Ham, the result not only ended their poor start to the season but also lifted morale ahead of a demanding run of fixtures.
The clean sheet added further positives, with the defence holding firm against a Forest side that had been determined to make home advantage count.
Forest, meanwhile, will be left to rue missed chances earlier in the game.
While competitive for long periods, their inability to convert opportunities ultimately proved costly as West Ham’s experience told in the closing stages.
The visitors left the City Ground with three crucial points, but also with renewed belief that their season can be put back on track.
Moyes will hope this performance can serve as a springboard for consistency, with Diouf’s form likely to be central to their ambitions.
For Diouf, still adjusting to the Premier League, the display marked an important statement.
His assist highlighted his attacking instincts, while his overall performance reflected maturity beyond his years — qualities West Ham will lean on as they look to climb the table.
The Hammers’ first victory of the campaign may have come later than expected, but in Nottingham, they showed the resilience and sharpness needed to turn their fortunes around.
Bringing the three points back to East London ⚒️ pic.twitter.com/1TfZXhbC7r
— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 31, 2025
