Chris Wood scores two as Nottingham Forest ensure Premier League survival
Monday, 20 May 2024
Nottingham Forest beat Burnley 2-1 to finish 17th on the Premier League standings.
New Zealand striker Chris Wood scored twice inside the first 15 minutes.
Wood finished the EPL season with 14 goals, matching his best-ever return.
All Whites star Chris Wood made certain of Nottingham Forest’s Premier League status by scoring both goals in a 2-1 final-day win over already relegated Burnley.
Forest had all but assured another season in the top flight as it entered the day three points ahead of Luton and with a 12-goal cushion in goal difference, and Wood's two goals inside the opening 15 minutes removed any remaining doubt.
Josh Cullen pulled one back with a deflected strike for the hosts in the 72nd minute but there was never any drama as Luton lost 4-2 to Fulham to go down alongside Burnley and Sheffield United.
Wood, who spent five years at Burnley and remains the club's top scorer in the Premier League, took his season tally to 15 goals in all competitions for Forest.
His 14 Premier League goals matched his best return in the competition.
He needed only 76 seconds to open the scoring after prodding home a cross from Anthony Elanga. He scored his second in the 14th but had to wait nearly two minutes longer for the VAR to overturn an initial offside decision after he got a toe to Ryan Yates’ shot to put it beyond the reach of Burnley goalkeeper Aro Muric.
Burnley needed a huge stroke of luck to get back into it as Cullen’s shot took a big deflection, but Wilson Odobert wasted a late chance to equalise.
Wood’s brace took him to 69 Premier League goals overall, moving him level with former Liverpool striker Luis Suárez in 68th position on the competition’s all-time scorers list.
He is one goal off Manchester United legend Eric Cantona.