Nottingham Forest’s Champions League dreams took a major hit as Brentford cruised to a 2-0 win at the City Ground, registering their sixth victory in their last eight away league matches.
Fresh off their FA Cup semi-final disappointment, Forest came into this game desperate to reclaim momentum in the top-five race. But it was Brentford, with little more than pride at stake, who looked sharper from the off.
Sepp van den Berg nearly gave the visitors an early lead, only for Matz Sels to make a sharp save.
Forest grew into the game, but frustrations mounted when Keane Lewis-Potter escaped a second yellow for a foul on Anthony Elanga.
Things got worse just before the break when a slip from Ola Aina allowed Kevin Schade to pounce and net his first goal in nine games.
Forest responded with intensity after halftime. Elanga forced a fine save from Mark Flekken, but the hosts lacked cutting edge. Then came the killer blow — a misjudged long ball from Flekken set up Yoane Wissa, who calmly chipped Sels to seal the win.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s men, unusually toothless in attack, have now suffered back-to-back home defeats for the first time this season, leaving their top-five spot hanging by a thread.
Brentford, meanwhile, keep faint European hopes alive, needing a strong finish and favourable results elsewhere.
