Nottingham Forest stunned Brentford with a 2-0 victory at the Gtech Community Stadium, ending Brentford’s unbeaten home run and securing a spot in the Premier League’s top four heading into Christmas. Despite a slow start, Forest capitalized on Brentford’s fatigue, having played their third match in less than a week, and dominated the game with quick and effective attacking play.
Forest had opportunities early on, with Chris Wood being denied a clear goal by a great save from Brentford’s goalkeeper Mark Flekken. It wasn’t long before Forest took control, with Ola Aina scoring the first goal after a well-timed cross from Neco Williams. Forest’s second goal came five minutes into the second half, when Anthony Elanga seized on a mistake by Keane Lewis-Potter, stealing the ball and calmly finishing past Flekken.
Brentford struggled to break down Forest’s defense, despite dominating possession. Kristoffer Ajer came closest for Brentford, testing Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels with a powerful shot that was deflected over the bar. Gerenal, Forest’s defense stood firm, with Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo forming a solid partnership that frustrated Brentford’s attacking efforts.
This victory was Forest’s fifth away win of the season, equaling their total number of away victories from their previous two Premier League campaigns combined. With a strong defensive record and effective attacking play, Forest’s performance highlighted their potential as serious top-four contenders. Despite Brentford’s defeat, manager Thomas Frank remained positive, acknowledging his team’s strong performance but admitting mistakes were made in conceding both goals.
Nottingham Forest’s head coach, Nuno Espirito Santo, praised his team’s resilience and maturity, emphasizing that while the team’s position is encouraging, it is too early to focus on the table. He stressed the need for continued improvement, with the team still a long way from achieving their goals. With this win, Forest heads into the Christmas break in a strong position, leaving questions about how long they can maintain this form amidst stiff competition from other top teams.
