Nottingham Forest’s man-of-the-moment Taiwo Awoniyi is still basking in the euphoria of scoring the side’s first English Premier League(EPL) goal after 23 years in their 1-0 home win against West Ham at The City Ground on Sunday.
The two-time European champions only gained promotion back to the EPL since the 1998–99 season and Sunday’s home game against West ham was their first as Nigeria international Awoniyi scored the only goal of the match much to the delight of the teeming fans at The City Ground.
“ As a striker and for me, it’s all about getting the goal into the net and that was what happened,” the 25-year-old who joined The Reds in the summer from Union Berlin, told Forest TV in a post-match interview . “I‘m happy to be the first player to score this historic goal and I’m still looking for more.
“I’m very happy about it but I have to give kudos to the lads because it was a team effort and that was just what we’d shown on the field of play today. “
West Ham indeed troubled Nottingham Forest throughout the match but Awoniyi reckoned the support of the Reds’ teeming fans was key to their first win of the season.
He continued: “ To be honest, they won the game for us because they were there from the beginning and that’s why it’s called The City Ground and we have to hold the ground always.
To be honest (winning home games), it would give us more confidence and opportunity for the team to be ready for the next game. “
Meanwhile , former Nigeria International Sam Sodje has noted that the dream debut home game for Awoniyi would boost his confidence as he settles down into the EPL.
“ For Awoniyi, that was a good start and which is going to help him because he showed he wanted it so bad, “ the 43-year-old former Notts County defender told Brila FM sports radio yesterday. “I played in Nottingham and I know how the fans are and regardless of the goal he has scored, the fans are going to love him forever.”