Nottingham Forest vs Brentford

Nottingham Forest host Brentford at the City Ground for a crucial rescheduled Premier League match on Thursday evening. Both teams desperately need a victory to keep their European hopes alive, playing catch-up after the weekend’s Premier League action concluded four days earlier. The fixture was postponed due to Forest’s FA Cup semi-final clash on Sunday, where they fell 2-0 to Manchester City at Wembley.

Despite Josko Gvardiol’s header early in the second half, and conceding within two minutes, Forest showed fight, striking the post three times and missing a golden chance through Anthony Elanga after the break. The tie could have swung in their favor with better fortune. Now, their focus shifts to an improbable Champions League berth, their first in over 40 years, buoyed by a gritty 2-1 victory at Tottenham in their last league game.

That win in North London encapsulated Nuno Espirito Santo’s Forest: with just 30% possession and only four shots to Tottenham’s 22, they raced to a 2-0 lead and clung on for the points. However, recent wins by Newcastle, Manchester City, and Chelsea have pushed Forest from third to sixth. With a game in hand, they sit level on goal difference with the top five and just two points shy of third.

Forest’s remaining fixtures look promising, with struggling Leicester City and an out-of-sorts West Ham United up next, before a final-day showdown with top-five contenders Chelsea. First, though, Brentford pose a stern test. Nuno won’t underestimate them, given their impressive away form and Forest’s last-gasp defeat to Everton at home in their previous City Ground outing.

Forest can take heart from their 2-0 win at Brentford’s Gtech Stadium earlier this season, their first top-flight victory over the Bees and the first by any team at Brentford’s fortress, where the hosts had claimed 22 of a possible 24 points at home beforehand.v

What began as a disastrous home run sparked an unexpected resurgence in Brentford’s away form. After having the Premier League’s worst road record in the first half of the season, Thomas Frank’s side suddenly hit their stride in 2025, racking up five consecutive away wins—including a hard-fought draw at Arsenal.

Their home struggles finally came to an end last time out, as the Bees snapped a nine-game winless streak at the Gtech with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion. The result not only boosted morale but also kept their European ambitions alive.

Brentford have never competed in continental football, but if Manchester City lift the FA Cup, eighth place could secure a Europa Conference League spot. Frank’s men are now just five points off that mark. However, Fulham and Brighton’s recent wins have tightened the race, meaning Brentford must be nearly flawless from here on out—even with a game in hand.