Taiwo Awoniyi’s comeback has arrived at exactly the right moment for Nottingham Forest, with improved results under a new manager tightening the relegation picture and changing how betting markets interpret their season.
Nottingham Forest’s campaign has not followed a straight line. For long stretches, they looked like a side drifting toward the bottom three, short on confidence and without a consistent presence in attack. As the end of the season approaches, that picture has changed. Results have improved, goals have followed, and there is now a sense that survival is within reach rather than slipping away.
That change has come from a combination of factors. The arrival of Vítor Pereira in February brought renewed belief and a clearer approach, while the return of Taiwo Awoniyi has added depth at a time when every contribution matters.
That impact is not always captured in the way individual players are priced, especially in markets built around season-long scoring totals.
How betting markets reflect Forest’s late-season momentum
If you were to bet on the Premier League Golden Boot market on Betway, an international bookmaker covering a wide range of sports with in-play options and mobile access across different regions, the picture is already clear. Erling Haaland sits at around 1/33, or roughly -3300 in American odds, reflecting a season built on consistent scoring across the full campaign.
That kind of market leans towards volume over timing, which means when you place a bet here, you are backing long-term output rather than short bursts of form.
Of course, Awoniyi’s impact does not appear in those conversations. The 28-year-old Ilorin-born striker is not competing for the Golden Boot, but that does not reduce the importance of what he has contributed in recent weeks.
Awoniyi’s return arrives when Forest need it most
When Awoniyi found the net against Brentford in January, it was not a routine finish. Picking up the ball inside his own half, the ten-time Nigeria international drove forward, held off challenges and finished through the legs of the goalkeeper to secure the win.
That moment carried weight because of what came before it. Just months earlier, he had been recovering from a serious injury that kept him out for a prolonged period. His return gave Forest an option they had been missing during a difficult run.
Since then, his contributions have continued to arrive at important times. He scored late in the 3-0 win away at Tottenham, adding a third goal that confirmed the result in a match with direct implications for the relegation battle.
More recently, he made an immediate impact off the bench in the 5-0 win over Sunderland, setting up a goal shortly after coming on. It was a brief appearance, but it showed how quickly he can influence a game when space opens up late on.
Relegation odds begin to reflect Forest’s improvement
Those moments might not influence Golden Boot markets, but they do affect how teams are priced elsewhere.
At around +1800 to go down, Nottingham Forest are no longer among the most likely sides to be relegated. If you choose to bet on the relegation market, that price reflects a team that still carries risk but has moved out of immediate danger compared to earlier in the season.
That improvement has been built on a run of performances under Pereira. His arrival in February focused on restoring confidence and simplifying the approach on the pitch. The impact has been clear in front of goal.
Forest have scored 16 league goals since Pereira took charge, more than any other side in that period. That output has not come from one player alone. Instead, it has been shared across the team, with Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus contributing alongside returning forwards.
The 5-0 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light was the clearest example. Four goals arrived in a 20-minute spell, turning a tight situation into a dominant performance and briefly opening up an eight-point gap to the bottom three.
That is the kind of result that forces betting markets to adjust.
A season balancing survival and opportunity
There is also a contrast when you look beyond the relegation picture. Nottingham Forest remain involved in European competition, with odds of around +333 to win the Europa League. For a team still working to secure its place in the Premier League, that position highlights how unpredictable their season has been.
On one side, they are focused on securing enough points to stay up. On the other hand, they are still capable of producing performances that carry them deep into a knockout competition.
This dynamic presents two separate narratives if you follow the markets. One is based on consistency and league position. The other is built on momentum and short-term form.
Why Awoniyi’s contributions still matter
Within that context, Awoniyi’s role is clear. He is not chasing individual awards, and he is not leading the scoring charts. What he offers is something different.
His goals have come at moments that directly affect results and his presence gives Forest another option, particularly in matches where physicality and movement are needed late on.
Forest are not relying on one player to carry them through the final weeks of the season. Instead, they are finding contributions across the squad, with Awoniyi adding depth to an attack that has become more effective under Pereira.
As the season moves towards its conclusion, those contributions could prove decisive. The Golden Boot race may already be decided, but at the other end of the table, it is moments like these that determine whether a team stays in the Premier League or drops into the Championship.
