Welcome to The Debrief, a Sky Sports column in which Adam Bate uses a blend of data and opinion to reflect on some of the key stories from the latest Premier League matches. This week:
- Gibbs-White’s form explained
- Why De Zerbi praised Kinsky
- Soucek still the space invader
How Forest unlocked Gibbs-White
Nobody has scored more Premier League goals in 2026 than Morgan Gibbs-White. The Nottingham Forest player is into double figures since the turn of the year. He has scored seven times since the start of March – three more than anyone else in the competition.
His stunning upsurge in form was marked by a hat-trick against Burnley and another in the 5-0 demolition of Sunderland last time out. His goals have propelled Forest away from the relegation zone and could yet take Gibbs-White to the World Cup this summer.
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Nottingham Forest’s match against Burnley
It is quite the transformation because his form had dipped in the early part of this season. Those familiar flicks were not coming off. He failed to ignite under Ange Postecoglou and never looked completely happy when playing in a Sean Dyche team.
Vitor Pereira has benefited from playing him a little further forwards and encouraging those trademark driving runs. According to Opta, he is making more of them than under any Forest manager since joining the club in 2022. He is getting lots of chances now too.
Gibbs-White’s heat map for Nottingham Forest reflects the change
Indeed, this goal total is no fluke. His expected-goals tally under Pereira is also at an all-time high, more than double what it was under Steve Cooper in the early period of his Forest career when he was already a popular figure. So what exactly has changed?
Although the goals have been flowing for much of the year, it was a tactical tweak at half-time against Burnley that really helped. Igor Jesus came on for Dilane Bakwa with Forest trailing at the City Ground, their Premier League future seemingly in the balance.
Gibbs-White was deployed in a new role, drifting in from the left with Omari Hutchinson asked to hold the width on the opposite flank, and it has helped him to find more space. It has been a triumph in an attacking sense, even if it demands a lot from the player.
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from the match between Sunderland and Nottingham Forest
“When I told him that, when we are attacking, I wanted him to play in the pocket but when we defend he must defend on the side, it was not a problem for him,” explained Pereira when speaking after the Burnley game. “He understands the game. He has the spirit.”
Pereira added: “When the team is struggling in the game, a lot of players could prefer to hide themselves, they do not want the ball. But Morgan wants the ball, he wants the responsibility. He wants to score goals, he wants to assist.” At Sunderland, he did both.
Ibrahim Sangare has had a key defensive role for Nottingham Forest this season
Do not underestimate the importance of Ibrahim Sangare in unlocking Gibbs-White’s form too. Since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations in January, the midfielder has been a defensive colossus and Forest appear to be a different team with him in it.
They have won just one of the 10 Premier League games this season in which Sangare has not been in the starting line-up but have 34 points from 24 games with him in it. Finding the right structure has been crucial for Forest. The gifted Gibbs-White has done the rest.
Kinsky’s redemption moment
Antonin Kinsky made this dramatic save from Adam Armstrong in Tottenham’s win at Wolves
Antonin Kinsky was not exactly busy in Tottenham’s win at Wolves but he was crucial. His stoppage-time save from a Joao Gomes free-kick bound for the top corner secured Spurs’ first Premier League win of 2026 and means they still have a hope of staying up.
There will be plenty rooting for the 23-year-old Czech after his humiliating experience in the Champions League away to Atletico Madrid when he was guilty of two errors and suffered the ignominy of being substituted by then boss Igor Tudor before half-time.
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from the match between Wolves and Tottenham Hotspur
“He deserves this day, because he played very well,” said Robert De Zerbi on Saturday. “Especially today, he was crucial for the result. He deserves everything, because he is a good guy, a good ‘keeper, and especially after Madrid, he deserves one day like today.”
What his miserable evening in Madrid masked is that Kinsky is at Tottenham because he has talent and potential. His distribution with the ball at his feet is actually regarded as a strength and his showing at Molineux reflected that when passing out from the back.
Kinsky’s pass map in Tottenham’s win at Wolves
He also did brilliantly when coming off his line to beat Adam Armstrong to the ball after Kevin Danso had dallied. It showed decisiveness. Spurs will need him if they are to escape. If Kinsky can continue to play a part in that then it will be some redemption tale.
Soucek is a West Ham hero
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from the match between West Ham and Everton
Kinsky was not the only Czechia international to have a successful Premier League weekend. Tomas Soucek opened the scoring in West Ham’s 2-1 win over Everton and produced a spectacular goal-line clearance with that same head to secure the three points.
Soucek has now scored 41 Premier League goals for West Ham. Only 11 men playing in the competition have scored more for their current club. It is a testament to the 31-year-old midfielder’s longevity but also his rare gift for engineering space inside the penalty box.
Tomas Soucek’s goal map for West Ham shows his threat from close range
Nuno Espirito Santo referred to this after a goal against Burnley earlier this season. “He recognises the space.” After scoring against Manchester United, he said: “Tomas has this quality where he is always able to find space and score.” He just keeps doing it.
Soucek heads in the opening goal in West Ham’s win over Everton
There was a period when Nuno felt that West Ham needed more energy in midfield and opted for the young pairing of Freddie Potts and Soungoutou Magassa. That plan was abandoned when West Ham were three goals down at half-time to Wolves in January.
Soucek was introduced at the interval in that game and has since started each of the last 14 Premier League matches, proving instrumental in turning around their fortunes alongside Mateus Fernandes. Since mid-January, West Ham rank sixth in the table.
Typical of the man, Soucek spent his Sunday morning cheering on his colleagues on the West Ham staff who were doing the London Marathon. Jarrod Bowen is the beloved captain, but there is another talisman at the club who could be a big factor in their survival.
