It wasn’t to be for Nottingham Forest at Wembley last weekend, as they were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final. Conceding early threw off their game plan, and despite hitting the woodwork three times, they couldn’t find a way back. With their cup run now over, Forest can fully focus on their push for UEFA Champions League qualification.
Other results over the weekend saw Forest slip to fifth in the Premier League, but they can climb back into the top three with a win over Brentford. The reverse fixture earlier this season ended in a 2-0 win for Forest, breaking a six-match winless run against the Bees. Nuno Espírito Santo’s side will be eager to get back to winning ways at home too, especially after a recent loss to Everton marked their first home defeat in some time.
Brentford still have hopes of finishing in the top half of the table for the second time in three seasons. They come into this match unbeaten in their last three league outings, including an entertaining 4-2 victory over Brighton. A win here would stretch that run to four games – something they haven’t managed yet this season.
The Bees’ recent away form has been key to their revival, with five wins in their last seven away league games. That’s a big turnaround after going winless in their first nine league trips this season. However, both of their recent away slip-ups came against teams who started the round above Forest, and Brentford have only won once in their last five visits to the City Ground.
Chris Wood is one to watch for Forest as he looks to become just the second player in the club’s history to score 20 Premier League goals in a season, after Stan Collymore’s 22 in 1994/95. For Brentford, Christian Nørgaard has proven to be a lucky charm – his side are unbeaten in the six games he’s scored in this season, and he found the net in last year’s meeting at the City Ground.
Brentford have received the fewest yellow cards in the Premier League this season, with just 48.
