Nottingham Forest continued their impressive Premier League form with a 2-0 victory over Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday. Goals from Ola Aina and Anthony Elanga secured all three points for the visitors, who climbed to third place on the table.
The match started at a lively pace, with Brentford looking to assert dominance early. Bryan Mbeumo, the Bees’ leading scorer this season, threatened in the opening minutes with a curling effort that went just wide of Matz Sels’ post. Moments later, Mikkel Damsgaard tested the Forest goalkeeper with a powerful shot, but Sels was equal to the task.
Despite Brentford’s early pressure, Forest gradually grew into the game. Morgan Gibbs-White, pulling the strings in midfield, came close in the 25th minute with a dipping free kick that forced Mark Flekken into a fingertip save. Forest’s persistence paid off in the 38th minute.
A swift counterattack saw Neco Williams deliver a low cross into the box. The ball bypassed Chris Wood, but Ola Aina arrived unmarked at the far post to fire past Flekken. It was a cool finish from the Nigerian defender, who has now scored twice this season.
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Brentford nearly equalized just before the break when Mathias Jensen’s long-range effort rattled the crossbar, but Forest held on to their lead.
The visitors struck again early in the second half. A defensive lapse by Keane Lewis-Potter allowed Anthony Elanga to pounce. The Swedish forward dispossessed the Brentford defender, sprinted into the box, and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner to double Forest’s advantage in the 51st minute.
Brentford tried to rally, with substitutes Neal Maupay and Yoane Wissa adding fresh energy to the attack. Kristoffer Ajer came closest for the hosts in the 63rd minute, unleashing a powerful header from a corner, but Sels made a stunning reflex save to keep the ball out.
Forest could have added a third late on when substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi found space in the box, but his effort was blocked by Ethan Pinnock.
The win extended Forest’s unbeaten run to three games, with their away form proving key to their rise up the table. Nuno Espírito Santo’s side demonstrated resilience and clinical finishing, attributes that have become hallmarks of their season.
For Brentford, the defeat highlighted their recent struggles. Despite dominating possession, Thomas Frank’s men lacked cutting edge in the final third and have now gone two matches without a win.
With this result, Forest remain firmly in the hunt for Champions League qualification, while Brentford drop to 12th, needing to regroup ahead of their Boxing Day fixture against Brighton.
Key Statistics
Shots on Target: Brentford 3–6 Nottingham Forest
Possession: Brentford 64%–36% Nottingham Forest
Corners: Brentford 9–5 Nottingham Forest
What’s Next?
Nottingham Forest return home to face a high-flying Tottenham side on Boxing Day, while Brentford will travel to Brighton, hoping to bounce back from this defeat.
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