NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – Chris Wood struck twice as Nottingham Forest defeated Brentford 3-1 at the City Ground yesterday, with Morgan Gibbs-White delivering a standout performance and Dan Ndoye scoring on his Premier League debut.
Forest took control from the outset, with Wood converting a corner in the fifth minute. The lead doubled in the 42nd minute when Ndoye headed in a precise cross from Gibbs-White, who was instrumental throughout the first half. Wood added a third goal in stoppage time before the break, putting the home side firmly in command.
Brentford pulled one back through Igor Thiago’s 78th-minute penalty following a handball by Ibrahim Sangare, but the effort was insufficient to mount a comeback. The visitors struggled under the new management of Keith Andrews, with defensive lapses and a lack of cohesion evident.
Since Nuno Espirito Santo became Forest manager in December 2023, only a handful of Premier League players have outscored Wood, whose form remains central to Forest’s ambitions. Ndoye impressed on his first league appearance, while newcomers James McAtee and Omari Hutchinson were introduced to fans before kick-off.
Forest could strengthen further, with Douglas Luiz and Arnaud Kalimuendo linked to summer moves, but retaining Gibbs-White appears to be their most significant success. The midfielder dominated the first half, narrowly missing a goal despite his commanding display.
Brentford, missing key figures from previous seasons, struggled to contain Forest’s pace and creativity. Andrews’ side showed some organisation after the interval, and Thiago’s penalty gave hope, but overall they were overpowered. New signing Dango Ouattara made his debut following a transfer from Bournemouth, but the team still faces challenges ahead of their next Premier League match against Aston Villa.
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