NOTTINGHAM FOREST 
City Ground
2 - 0 (Goulden, Ruffell)
4 January 1936
Att: 14,035

Conway

Chalkley

Walker A.

Fenton E.

Barrett

Cockroft

Simpson

Marshall

Mangnall

Goulden

Ruffell

West Ham broke the home record of Nottingham Forest. They administered the first defeat of the season there, and they thoroughly deserved their victory. They did so because they adapted themselves better to the conditions and played the right game. The pitch was in the heaviest possible condition, following flooding, but this fact did not upset the Hammers.

They kept the ball moving quickly to the wings, and they were superior to the Forest in all departments. By their better methods. West Ham established a two goals lead by the interval, and although the Forest did better afterwards, they were unable to overcome the West Ham defence, in which Barrett did great work against Dent, the persevering home centre forward. Both goals experienced escapes in the early play, but the goalkeepers were alert and repelled shots which were well directed. The Hammers, however, were generally the more dangerous in attack, and the failure of the Forest wing halves placed a great deal of work on the home defenders. It was the West Ham left wing pair, Ruffell and Goulden, who caused most trouble, and it was as the result of capital work by them that the Hammers went ahead before 20 minutes had elapsed.

A fine movement between the two ended in Ruffell drawing the defence and passing to Goulden, who flashed the ball into the net with a powerful drive from about 25 yards range. Shots by Stubbs and Graham for the Forest went close, but the home attack had not the trust, or the ability to work out clear openings as had West Ham, who, by their accurate passing, continued to dominate the play. A perfect forward movement, initiated by Simpson on the right, ended in West Ham going further ahead, Ruffell scoring with a great shot from a narrow angle. For some time after the interval West Ham were content to hold their lead and frustrate determined efforts of the Forest forwards, and during this time Conway saved brilliantly from Dent and Graham, and Walker, Chalkley and Barrett defended strongly. The Hammers had their share of the attack during the second half but their finishing was not so good as it was in the first period, and the home defenders had an easier task. It was a well-deserved victory, gained by superior tactics on a holding pitch.