Nottingham Forest's Champions League dreams were dented on Thursday night as Brentford twice capitalised on defensive errors to secure a 2-0 win at the City Ground in the Premier League.
Aside from a brief promising spell for Forest midway through the first half, Brentford looked the more likely to break the deadlock, and they did just that on the stroke of half time as Kevin Schade capitalised on Ola Aina's slip and poked the ball into the net, giving the Bees the lead at the break.
The second half saw an electric back-and-forth affair as Nottingham Forest pushed higher up the pitch in an attempt to get back into the match, but in an almost carbon copy of the first goal, the Forest defence was caught sleeping on a long ball forward and Yoane Wissa was able to break through before cheekily dinking into the net to secure the 2-0 victory.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
It is hard to say how damaging this defeat could be to Nottingham Forest's Champions League dreams, as they still trail fifth-placed Chelsea only on goal difference, but squandering the chance to move back into fourth will certainly dent their morale.
There was a lack of quality at the final moment for Forest, while an inability to create clear-cut chances for top scorer Chris Wood meant they failed to breach Brentford's goal.
In a cruel turn of events, Nottingham Forest's January target Wissa put the nail in the coffin for the hosts as he cheekily dinked over Matz Sels to secure the 2-0 victory for the Bees.
Both goals came from a lack of concentration from the Forest defence, a rarity given how strong they have been at the back this season, as they were twice caught out by long balls forward.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST VS. BRENTFORD HIGHLIGHTS
Kevin Schade goal vs. Nottingham Forest (44th min, Nottingham Forest 0-1 Brentford)
A mix-up at the back leads to Kevin Schade opening the scoring for Brentford! 🐝 pic.twitter.com/aHSpyfoqwQ
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 1, 2025
Schade gives Brentford the lead on the stroke of half-time!
Nathan Collins is afforded plenty of time to look up and send a long searching ball towards Nottingham Forest's box, where Schade is making a bursting run through the middle of the defence.
Schade's first touch is a poor one, but Aina slips underneath the bouncing ball and the winger pokes past Sels and into the bottom right corner.
Yoane Wissa goal vs. Nottingham Forest (71st min, Nottingham Forest 0-2 Brentford)
Yoane Wissa's delightful finish doubles Brentford's lead 🔥 pic.twitter.com/LYiqDbgYov
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 1, 2025
Wissa doubles Brentford's lead, awful defending once again from the hosts!
A long ball forward from a goal kick catches the Nottingham Forest defence sleeping, bouncing over Nikola Milenkovic and into the path of Wissa, who has burst into the box.
Sels looks certain to beat the striker to the ball, but Wissa expertly lobs the keeper at the last second to give Brentford a crucial second.
MAN OF THE MATCH - NATHAN COLLINS
© Imago
Collins was one of several standout performers for Brentford today, but the defender was the pick of the bunch as he excelled defensively while also superbly picking out Schade for the opening goal.
It was the defender's long ball forward that caught Forest sleeping for the opening goal, proving to be a pivotal moment in the match that helped define the end result.
Collins was also formidable in defence, making 10 clearances, completing one tackle, winning seven duels and blocking one shot throughout the 90 minutes.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST VS. BRENTFORD MATCH STATS
Possession: Nottingham Forest 55%-45% Brentford
Shots: Nottingham Forest 15-11 Brentford
Shots on target: Nottingham Forest 6-3 Brentford
Corners: Nottingham Forest 4-5 Brentford
Fouls: Nottingham Forest 10-12 Brentford
BEST STATS
9 - Mark Flekken's assist for Yoane Wissa was the ninth time a goalkeeper has assisted a Premier League goal in 2024-25, the most ever in a single season in the competition, overtaking eight in 1992-93 and 2007-08. Route.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 1, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
Nottingham Forest now have four crucial games remaining in their fight to secure a Champions League place in the Premier League, and their run-in will continue with a trip to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace on Monday.
Meanwhile, Brentford's own battle for a European place in the league standings will resume when they host Manchester United at the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Ellis Stevens
