Nottingham Forest calmed East Midlanders’ worries about their squad depth with a reassuringly easy 3-0 win over Brentford at the City Ground. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo stated his frustration at being so short before the game. On the final whistle, he would walk off the pitch feeling a little more reassured having seen his side run out to a vibrant performance. Chris Wood emerged as a standout player, scoring twice and helping to secure a critical win as Nottingham Forest starts on a season that promises European football for the first time since 1996.
The game played out as an exhilarating attack v defence stalemate, with Nottingham Forest starting on the front foot and Wood netting the opener from a corner. Morgan Gibbs-White’s creativity was on display almost the entire match. On the other wing, Callum Hudson-Odoi was a menace to Brentford’s backline all day. Elliot Anderson pulled the strings from midfield and provided an assist that should be up for goal of the season.
A First-Half Collapse for Brentford
Crawley Town bossrate Keith Andrews witnessed a dramatic drop in his side’s quality, mostly during the first period. Even with the excitement of their high profile matchday strategy, the team fell short on professionalism and kept calm. Andrews commented on Yoanne Wissa’s lack of presence, saying,
“It is what it is. It’s an ongoing issue. Ideally Wissa would have been available today and unless anything has happened in the last few hours then it’s the same things.”
The first half saw Brentford unable to cope with Nottingham Forest’s relentless attacking, leading Andrews to comment on his team’s naivety.
“The game was pretty much done at half-time and I didn’t like a lot of what I saw in the first half,” he said.
He went on to lament how ball turnovers on critical field positions helped lead to their major loss.
“You have to do the basics at this level to give yourself a chance of winning games. It was the game we knew would be. Ball losses in critical areas cost us. There was a naivety I felt in some cases,” Andrews added.
Nottingham Forest’s Resilient Performance
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side showed enormous character and imagination from the start to the finish. Chris Wood quickly became the focal point of their attack. He scored the opener, then added a second goal, putting Nottingham Forest jobs completely in command. His exuberant embrace of teammates after scoring the third goal of the game summed up the togetherness of this talented team.
We are pleased to say Elliot Anderson’s deep and thoughtful contribution to this idea did not go unnoticed. On his ever broader canvas he produced a jaw-dropping chance for debutant Dan Ndoye to score. This goal was an even starker illustration of Nottingham Forest’s quality in the final third and knack of scoring when it matters.
Following the game, Espirito Santo needed a moment to absorb what his team had just accomplished. He painted the picture of urgent squad reinforcements needed while focusing on the positives from the game. He stated,
“Today doesn’t change what we address during the week. The squad needs more solutions and more options and more balance.”
He said the squad depth needs to be improved as they advance through the season, he’s hopeful to do so.
Looking Ahead
Nottingham Forest is readying themselves for another battle this season. They’ll be hoping to continue progressing off the back of a stunning display against Brentford. The win not only boosts morale but serves as a reminder of what can be achieved with teamwork and determination.
As European competition approaches, the importance of each match will be exacerbated. Espirito Santo is aware of where the squad must improve. These ongoing struggles and darker moments notwithstanding, Gerard remains hopeful about their potential in the years ahead.
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