By Kayode John
Super Eagles defender Ola Aina says his superb strike in Nottingham Forest’s 3-0 victory over West Ham in the English Premier League on Saturday would have surprised everyone, including his teammates.
Starting his 10th consecutive league game of the season, Aina sealed the emphatic win for his side in the 78th minute when he bulldozed his way through before firing a left-footed shot into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area at the City Ground.
“Sometimes it comes out. I like to surprise everyone, just bounced up right and then I was knackered anyway so I just thought I might as well hit it,” he told Optus Sport.
Following the win, Forest are up to third in the league table ahead of the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Aston Villa.
“We are taking every game as it comes and we’re just working hard. That’s the formula, just work hard and take every game as it comes,” the Nigeria international stated.
The 28-year-old hailed in-form striker Chris Wood who netted his eighth goal of the campaign in the clash.
“He’s on top form and he’s just got the knack for it, in front of goal everything he touches is going in, so we just have to keep finding him and hopefully he can keep scoring,” Aina said.
The Hammers were reduced to 10 men after Edson Álvarez’s rash tackle towards the end of the first half, and the former Torino right-back suggested that his side utilised the numerical advantage.
“Obviously they’ve gone down to 10 men and when things like that happen, sometimes you can start taking the liberties, but we stuck to what were doing and the game plan, and got the two extra goals,” he added.
“We closed the game out in good perfection.”
