Brentford delivered a major blow to Nottingham Forest’s Champions League ambitions with a composed and clinical 2-0 victory at the City Ground.
Just days after their FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City, Forest struggled to rediscover their spark, lacking the creativity and cutting edge needed to break down a disciplined Brentford side.
Kevin Schade opened the scoring for the visitors just before half-time, pouncing from close range after escaping his marker. It was a deserved lead for a Brentford team that controlled much of the first half and looked fresher following a 12-day break since their last outing.
Forest emerged with more urgency after the break, spurred on by torrential rain and tactical changes from manager Nuno Espirito Santo, who brought on Nicolas Dominguez for Callum Hudson-Odoi. The home side upped the tempo, with Anthony Elanga forcing a sharp save from Mark Flekken after cutting into the box.
Chris Wood had a rare chance to level the match but failed to convert with a header from six yards out. As Forest pushed forward and grew in confidence, Brentford struck again on the counter. Yoane Wissa finished off a swift move with a delicate chip over Matz Sels, sealing the result.
The defeat leaves Forest in sixth place, still just two points behind third-placed Newcastle with four games remaining, but their fate is now partially out of their own hands after a third loss in four league matches.
Flat Forest Falter Again
In the lead-up to this key fixture, Nuno described Forest’s final five league matches as “the biggest of our careers.” Yet once again, his side failed to rise to the occasion, mirroring their uninspired display at Wembley.
Brentford found little resistance in the first half, with Forest mustering just one tame effort on target — a routine stop for Flekken from Elliot Anderson’s strike.
The second half saw marginal improvement, particularly through Elanga’s solo runs and increased energy in midfield. However, the lack of end product and failure to capitalize on brief momentum proved costly. Wood, chasing a milestone 20-goal season, remained largely anonymous.
With Champions League qualification still mathematically possible, Forest must now rely on others slipping up to reclaim control of their destiny.
Brentford Keep Euro Dream Alive
Brentford’s victory, their first since mid-April, showcased their tactical maturity and attacking efficiency. Sepp van den Berg went close early, forcing Sels into action with a powerful header, and Schade’s opener came at a crucial moment to reward their early dominance.
After the break, Brentford sat deeper, trusting in their counter-attacking threat. Their plan worked perfectly as Wissa latched onto Flekken’s long ball to calmly seal the win.
Bryan Mbeumo nearly added a third late on, but his curling effort sailed over. Still, the result solidifies Brentford’s push for a European place. Though they remain 11th, the Bees are firmly in contention for their highest-ever Premier League finish, building on their ninth-place showing in 2022-23.
