Nottingham Forest’s dreams of returning to the Champions League for the first time since 1980 took a serious hit after a 2-0 defeat at home to Brentford on Thursday night. Goals from Kevin Schade and Yoane Wissa sealed a deserved win for the visitors at the City Ground, leaving Forest’s hopes of a top-five finish hanging by a thread.
Forest have now lost three of their last four games, a poor run of form that sees them outside the Premier League’s top five with just four matches remaining. They remain on 60 points, two adrift of third-placed Newcastle, in a congested race that also includes Manchester City, Chelsea, and Aston Villa. This season, the Premier League’s top five will qualify for the Champions League, thanks to strong European performances across English clubs.
A win on the night would have lifted Forest to third, but instead they slumped to a disappointing defeat, their third in quick succession following their FA Cup semi-final exit at the hands of Manchester City. It’s a concerning dip for a side that had spent most of the campaign in the Premier League’s top half and dreaming of a historic European return.
The match began with Brentford threatening early, with Sepp van den Berg heading straight at Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels from a set-piece. The visitors were well-organised, disciplined in defense, and constantly looking to hit Forest on the break.
Forest grew into the game and looked most dangerous on the counter-attack, their hallmark this season. However, they struggled to break down a resolute Brentford side and paid the price for defensive lapses.
The breakthrough came just before half-time. A long ball from Nathan Collins caused chaos in the Forest defense. Germany international Kevin Schade benefited when Ola Aina slipped, allowing Schade to pounce and finish calmly past Sels.
The second half began with renewed energy from Forest as heavy rain fell over the City Ground. Anthony Elanga came close to equalizing and top scorer Chris Wood had a golden opportunity with a header, but his effort went wide. Despite dominating possession, Forest couldn’t find a way through Brentford’s stubborn backline.
Then came the killer blow. Another long ball, this time from goalkeeper Mark Flekken, bounced awkwardly for the Forest defense. Yoane Wissa raced past Nikola Milenkovic, maintained his composure, and chipped Sels to double Brentford’s lead with 20 minutes remaining.
Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo made a series of substitutions in an attempt to change the game, but his side looked bereft of ideas as Brentford managed the closing stages with maturity and control.
The result was a bitter disappointment for Forest, who now face mounting pressure in their final four games against Crystal Palace, Leicester, West Ham, and Chelsea. With their form faltering at the worst possible moment, their European dream is now in serious jeopardy.
For Brentford, the win marks a significant boost in their own bid for European qualification. They move to within a point of 10th-placed Bournemouth and are eyeing their highest-ever Premier League finish. The Bees showed grit, tactical discipline, and attacking sharpness, all of which will give them belief heading into their final four fixtures.
Forest will need a quick turnaround to salvage their season and keep their long-awaited European dream alive.
