SUNDERLAND, England (AP) — Nottingham Forest took a huge step toward ensuring its Premier League survival in a stunning 5-0 win at Sunderland on Friday.
Less than a week after beating Burnley 4-1, Forest rose eight points clear of the relegation zone and sent shivers down the spine of Tottenham Hotspur fans. Spurs occupy the third relegation spot, two points behind West Ham.
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Sunderland's Granit Xhaka (34), Brian Brobbey (9) and Omar Alderete appear dejected after Nottingham Forest scored a fourth goal during the Premier League soccer match between Sunderland and Nottingham Forest, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Sunderland, England. (Richard Sellers/PA via AP)
Nottingham Forest's Chris Wood, left, celebrates scoring their second goal during the Premier League soccer match between Sunderland and Nottingham Forest, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Sunderland, England. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White, left, scores their third goal of the game during the Premier League soccer match between Sunderland and Nottingham Forest, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Sunderland, England. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Nottingham Forest's Igor Jesus, right, celebrates scoring their fourth goal of the game with teammate Ibrahim Sangare during the Premier League soccer match between Sunderland and Nottingham Forest, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Sunderland, England. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
With Burnley and Wolves already relegated, Spurs or West Ham are now the most likely candidates to join them.
“It gives us some breathing room and puts pressure on the two chasing behind," Forest's New Zealand striker Chris Wood said. "Back-to-back wins do that for you.
“We built on the second half from last week, that is what we wanted to do. We want to build and get better and show what we are capable of. We started fast and what we did today was fantastic."
Sunderland had the best defensive record in the league at home after Manchester City and Arsenal, but that defensive solidity disappeared during a woeful first half.
Forest looked quicker and hungrier from the off and took the lead after 16 minutes when Igor Jesus’ header went in off Trai Hume following a neatly worked short corner.
Disaster then struck for Sunderland as goalkeeper Robin Roefs gifted Forest a second. His sloppy pass went straight to Morgan Gibbs-White, who fed Chris Wood to give the big New Zealander, recently back from a long injury layoff, his first league goal since the opening day of the season.
Gibbs-White made it 3-0 three minutes later when he drilled home a low shot after Jesus’ superbly cushioned header gave him time and space.
Jesus got Forest’s fourth three minutes later as Sunderland crumbled.
Sunderland’s Dan Ballard had a goal chalked off after a video review in the second half and if there was any doubt the home side was all out of luck it came in stoppage time when Elliot Anderson made it five and confirmed Sunderland’s heaviest ever defeat at the Stadium of Light.
“It is hard to explain straight after the game,” Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka said. “What I can say is that we apologise to our fans. They were easy goals we conceded today. Three set-pieces and the coach has just said in there that if you drop 1% of your maximum then you are dead. You get punished and we got punished at home.”
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Sunderland's Granit Xhaka (34), Brian Brobbey (9) and Omar Alderete appear dejected after Nottingham Forest scored a fourth goal during the Premier League soccer match between Sunderland and Nottingham Forest, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Sunderland, England. (Richard Sellers/PA via AP)
Nottingham Forest's Chris Wood, left, celebrates scoring their second goal during the Premier League soccer match between Sunderland and Nottingham Forest, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Sunderland, England. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White, left, scores their third goal of the game during the Premier League soccer match between Sunderland and Nottingham Forest, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Sunderland, England. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Nottingham Forest's Igor Jesus, right, celebrates scoring their fourth goal of the game with teammate Ibrahim Sangare during the Premier League soccer match between Sunderland and Nottingham Forest, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Sunderland, England. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
People across Asia kicked off May Day with large marches and protests as many workers grapple with rising energy costs and shrinking purchasing power tied to the Iran war. Also known as International Workers’ Day or Labor Day, the holiday highlights the struggles and achievements of workers worldwide. Thousands are taking to the streets from Asia to Europe and beyond calling for stronger labor protections, higher wages and greater equality while drawing attention to stagnant incomes and the rising cost of living.
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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Union members carefully step through rain-formed puddles to participate in a May Day rally in the rain Friday, May 1, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Taiwanese workers take part in a May Day rally in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Members of trade unions take part in a May Day rally in Tsakane, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Protester take part in a rally to mark May Day in Athens, on Friday, May 1, 2026 (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Members of trade unions and workers shout anti-government slogans during an International Labor Day march in New Delhi, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Supporters of the Iraqi Communist Party holds a symbolic hammer and sickle as they take part in the May Day celebration in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
A family watch people march to mark International Workers' Day, also known as May Day, in Sydney, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
A protesters holds a fuel pump during the May Day demonstration in Rennes, western France, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo)
Members of the Moroccan Labor Union (UMT) celebrate May Day during a rally in Casablanca. Morocco, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Akram Oubachir)
Protesters shout slogans during a May Day rally in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Activists of Bonded Labour Liberation Front Pakistan (BLLF) hold placards during a May Day rally, in Lahore, Pakistan, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)
A man holds a poster with an image of former Soviet leader Josef Stalin as he and other Russian Communist Party supporters gather to mark Labor Day, also known as May Day, at the monument to 19th century German philosopher Karl Marx, near the Red Square in Moscow, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions shout slogans during a rally on May Day in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, May 1, 2026. AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Protesters march in the teargas during the May Day demonstration in Lyon, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Union members scuffle with Turkish police officers as they try to march towards Taksim square in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, May 1, 2026, during Labor Day celebrations. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Protesters burn an effigy of U.S. President Donald Trump during a May Day rally in Manila, Philippines on Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Kiln workers take part in a demonstration to mark May Day in Hyderabad, Pakistan, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Pervez Masih)
People march to mark International Workers' Day, also known as May Day, in Sydney, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
Protesters march towards the Malacanang Presidential palace during a May Day rally in Manila, Philippines on Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
A laborer holds an Argentine flag during a May Day demonstration in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, April 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
One of union members carefully steps through rain-formed puddles to participate in a May Day rally in the rain Friday, May 1, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Protesters shout slogans as they are blocked by police while trying to march towards the U.S. Embassy during a May Day rally in Manila, Philippines on Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
People march to mark International Workers' Day, also known as May Day, in Sydney, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
Protesters push an effigy of, from left, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Donald Trump and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a May Day rally in Manila, Philippines on Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions stage a rally on May Day in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, May 1, 2026. The letters read "No War and Peace." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Laborers hold flares during a May Day demonstration in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, April 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Protesters shout slogans as they are blocked while trying to march towards the U.S. Embassy during a May Day rally in Manila, Philippines on Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Protesters hold posters of communist figures as they march towards the Malacanang presidential palace during a May Day rally in Manila, Philippines on Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
