Gibbs-White scores hat-trick as Forest overturn deficit to demolish Burnley

Forest entered this Trentside encounter with the opportunity to extend their lead to five points above the relegation places, a result that seemed likely considering Burnleys struggles.

That said, describing the first 20 minutes as uneventful would be putting it mildly, since no shots were attempted until the 25th minute, when James WardProwse tried his luck with a free kick from 30 yards out.

The effort from WardProwse bounced right in front of Matz Sels, prompting the keeper to push it clear, yet beyond that incident, there was scant action on the pitch.

Even though Forest had every reason to press Burnley aggressively, the home side faced a steep challenge after the interval when Scott Parkers team struck just before the break with a surprise goal.

Following a loose ball in midfield, Burnley swiftly transitioned, allowing Quilindschy Hartman to square it for leading marksman Zian Flemming, who finished his ninth goal of the league campaign with a tidy sweep.

A golden opportunity to level things arose barely 10 minutes into the second half, as replacement Igor Jesus had his shot deflect kindly towards the unmarked Morgan GibbsWhite, only for the forward to slice his attempt wide.

Forest key player GibbsWhite quickly made up for his miss, slipping behind the defence to connect with a speculative delivery into the area that WardProwse nodded precisely for him, controlling it neatly before slotting into the bottom corner for his first.

The turnaround was sealed just six minutes after, courtesy of GibbsWhite once again, who stole in at the far post to volley Omari Hutchinsons precise cross.

With the Trick Trees facing a tense finish, GibbsWhite delivered a brilliant header from the penalty area spot with 12 minutes remaining to notch his treble and clinch vital points for Forest in their fight against relegation, now enjoying a solid buffer from danger.

Jesus then netted a fourth in the dying moments, pushing Burnley closer to demotion, which might be sealed as early as Wednesday evening.