In the opening match of the season, Nottingham Forest triumphed over Brentford with a convincing 3-1 scoreline, thanks to a stellar performance from forward Chris Wood, who scored two goals at the 5’ and 47’ mark of the first half. The first half also saw Dan Ndoye head in a goal at the 41’ minute, solidifying Forest’s lead. Brentford managed to find the net with a penalty converted by Igor Thiago in the 77’ minute, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome.
Elliot Anderson was named the standout player of the match, completing 66 successful passes, winning 2 tackles, and taking 3 shots towards the goal. His midfield presence was crucial for Forest’s control during the game.
Chris Wood not only scored 2 goals but also attempted 2 shots on target and made 7 accurate passes, showcasing his impact in the game.
Nottingham’s head coach, Nuno Simões Espírito Santo, opted for a 4-3-3 formation, placing Matz Sels in goal behind a defensive line composed of Ola Aina, Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, and Neco Williams; with Elliot Anderson, Ibrahim Sangaré, and Morgan Gibbs-White in the midfield; and Dan Ndoye, Chris Wood, and Callum Hudson-Odoi leading the attack.
On the other hand, Brentford’s manager Keith Andrews set up his team in a 4-5-1 formation with Caoimhin Kelleher in goal, supported by defenders Michael Kayode, Sepp van den Berg, Nathan Collins, and Rico Henry; a midfield of Mathias Jensen, Yegor Yarmolyuk, Fabio Carvalho, Antoni Milambo, and Keane Lewis-Potter; and Igor Thiago as the lone striker.
The match, held at the City Ground, was officiated by referee Peter Bankes.
Looking ahead, Nottingham Forest will face Crystal Palace in their next fixture while Brentford will host Aston Villa. Currently, Nottingham sits in fifth place with 3 points, while Brentford is in seventeenth place without any points.
Nottingham Forest Substitutions
78’ 2H – Chris Wood off for Igor Jesus and Dan Ndoye off for Jota Silva
83’ 2H – Morgan Gibbs-White off for Ryan Yates
Yellow Cards for Nottingham Forest:
52’ 2H – Neco Williams (Unsporting behavior)
Brentford Substitutions
90’ 2H – Antoni Milambo off for Kevin Schade
67’ 2H – Mathias Jensen off for Jordan Henderson and Keane Lewis-Potter off for Frank Onyeka
87’ 2H – Rico Henry off for Aaron Hickey
Yellow Cards for Brentford:
51’ 2H – Nathan Collins (Unsporting behavior) and 44’ 2H – Aaron Hickey (Unsporting behavior)