Nottingham Forest claimed a big Premier League point as they drew 1-1 with Newcastle United at the City Ground
17:09, 10 May 2026Updated 17:11, 10 May 2026
Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest celebrates scoring
Head coach Vitor Pereira hailed the character and quality of Elliot Anderson after the midfielder clinched a crucial 1-1 draw for Nottingham Forest.
The Reds came from behind to claim an important point against Newcastle United at the City Ground. Anderson came to the rescue with a vital equaliser at the death against his former club after Harvey Barnes had put the visitors in front with 15 minutes to go.
The stalemate made it eight Premier League games unbeaten for Forest and means they are on the verge of securing another season of top-flight football. All eyes will now be on West Ham United’s game with Arsenal this afternoon (4.30pm kick-off), where a win for the title-chasing Gunners would see the Reds mathematically safe.
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For Anderson, the goal carried a lot of weight on a personal level. Not only did it come against his boyhood club but it was also after the recent death of his mother, Helen – whose funeral, Pereira said, had been held a matter of days ago.
“It is difficult for me and I believe for everyone to understand what he is feeling inside,” Pereira said. “But I believe that he honoured his mother by going on the pitch and running until the last minute.
“He is a very, very talented player. He has a strong, strong character.”
Anderson is bound to have suitors come the summer, with Forest facing a fight to hang on to the player they signed from the Magpies in 2024. Asked if he expects the England international to be at the club next season, Pereira said: “I don’t have the answer. I know he deserves the top of the world. But he is our player and we need to enjoy him.
“I have worked with talented players, but to find a top player with this character is not easy. I am not thinking about next season, I am thinking about this season and finishing in the best position we can.”
Pereira added: “He has the quality to score goals. In the warm-up, my assistants, I stopped and they said to me: ‘Elliot is on fire today’. Every time that he shot on goal, he scored.
“He had the funeral of his mother two days ago, I didn’t speak with him, but I believe that he wanted to honour his mother with a goal. I believe that’s why he tried until the last minutes to score a goal, because this is the way that he found to go on the pitch and to give everything to play for.”
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