21 December 2024
Brentford 0 Nott’m Forest 2
Brentford welcomed Nottingham Forest to the Gtech Community Stadium for a festive battle. The hosts boasted the best home record in the Premier League this season, while the visitors had one of the best away records. Something had to give. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side were looking to ensure that they spent Christmas in the top four, something they had not achieved for some thirty years.
Thomas Frank was dealing with some key injuries as a result of crashing out of the Carabao Cup in midweek. Despite this, they started on the front foot and Wissa picked out Damsgaard in space in the box. He scuffed his shot but it still forced a save from Sels in the bottom corner of the goal to deny the hosts the lead.
Forest seemed to be channelling their ‘inner Man Utd’ in defence. Murillo completely missed the ball before Morato sliced it in the air towards his own goal. Wissa tried to capitalise but as Sels came out, his shot nestled onto the top of the net. At this point in the game, not many would have bet against The Bees extending their impressive home record.
Damsgaard then picked out Mbuemo out wide with a sublime pass. He drilled a dangerous ball across goal that was just needing a touch to put it into the back of the net. Wissa tried to get there but was unable to get anything on it. Franks’ side had high-flying Forest with their backs against the wall at this stage and the home fans were loving every minute.
The visitors came on their first attack as Hudson-Odoi and Anderson combined well out wide. The former Newcastle man clipped in an inch-perfect cross onto the head of Wood in the box. It seemed destined for the back of the net but Flekken got down to make a superb save to turn it around the post for a corner.
Williams then started creating problems down the left as the Welshman drilled a cross into the box. Wood completely missed the ball but Aina was there strike a shot into the bottom corner of the goal to give the visitors the lead. At this point no doubt, the Forest striker would have been telling all his teammates he knew he was there and simply dummied it for him.
Despite all their early pressure, Brentford were heading into the interval behind. They have been in this position quite a few times this season but the inspirational words of Thomas Frank had always managed to turn games on their head completely. The Bees’ fans were hoping for more of the same from their manager in this game also.
The goal seemed to give Forest the confidence to find their normal style of play. They passed the ball around and the hosts had little answer to it. Gibbs-White was getting more involved, which is usually the recipe for Nottingham Forest to dominate games this season. It was well worked to Wood on the edge of the box, but he sent his shot into orbit and down the road outside the stadium.
Forest continued to press and as the ball was worked to Elanga out wide, the Brentford players stood off him. The former Man Utd winger does not need much invitation and ran at the defence, cutting inside onto his stronger foot. He bent his effort around Flekken and into the far corner of the goal. That Brentford home record was looking under severe pressure at this point.
By this stage, the visitors were absolutely dominating the game. Elanga had switched flanks and was causing all sorts of problems with his pace. As he strode into the box, he looked to beat Flekken at his near post but The Bees’ keeper did well to keep it out. The home fans had not seen anyone put their side to the sword like this at the Gtech Community Stadium this campaign.
The Bees had a superb chance to get back into the game when a deep cross was headed down by Mbuemo into the path of Ajer. He drilled his shot into the ground and caught it with some venom. He stood with his head in his hands as Sels made an immense reaction save to claw it over the crossbar to deny him. What a signing he has been for Nottingham Forest.
With both sides going for it, the game was end-to-end stuff at this point. As Schade looked to drive into the box, Murillo did well to win the ball back. Gibbs-White played a brilliant clipped pass out wide to Elanga. He used his pace to get down the wing before crossing from the byline. It came to Hudson-Odoi on the edge of the box but his shot was deflected over the target.
Nottingham Forest held on for a big three points and were breaking records in the process. This was their best points return in a top-flight campaign at this stage since 1987. In Nuno we trust was the mantra being repeated by Forest fans up and down the country. It was Brentford’s first defeat at home this season, a tough one to take.
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