Nottingham Forest returned home to The City Ground on Saturday afternoon to host mid-table side Brentford in the Premier League.
Steve Cooper made three changes to the side that started in last week’s trip to the Emirates as Neco Williams, Emmanuel Dennis and Brennan Johnson replaced Renan Lodi, Taiwo Awoniyi and Jesse Lingard.
The Reds started brightly and forced Brentford goalkeeper David Raya into action inside the first three minutes. Morgan Gibbs-White slipped Brennan Johnson through with a goal to aim at, but the Spaniard was equal to it.
The impressive link-up play from the pair continued shortly after with the number ten finding Johnson in a similar position, but Raya once again denied the Wales international at full stretch.
The opening 15 minutes of the first half were spent mostly in Forest’s half, highlighted by an intriguing battle between Neco Williams and Mbeumo down the right side.
Gibbs-White had his fingerprints all over the game and was rewarded with a first Nottingham Forest goal just shy of the 20-minute mark, gliding past a handful of defenders to finish expertly into the bottom right corner.
Referee Andre Marriner waved away a strong penalty shout for Forest when Joshua Dasilva appeared to push Ryan Yates to the ground on the edge of the area just before the half hour stage.
The Reds goal scorer looked hungry for more as the first half drew to a close, forcing Raya to make his fifth save of the period as Forest continued to dominate the affair.
On the cusp of the break, Bryan Mbuemo’s lofted ball put Yoane Wissa one-on-one with Dean Henderson who appeared to make slight contact with the forward on his way down.
Following a lengthy VAR check with Andre Marriner taking a look at the pitchside monitor, a penalty was awarded and Mbuemo converted to level the score at 1-1.
Half time: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Brentford
Steve Cooper continued to search for a way through, introducing fresh legs in midfield as Cheikhou Kouyaté made way for Lewis O’Brien.
The hosts were denied another penalty appeal just before 70 minutes, this time when Ben Mee looked to leave a leg out as Gibbs-White skipped past the defender inside the 18-yard box.
Against the run of play, Brentford took the lead through Yoane Wissa as the frontman latched onto Mathias Jensen’s well-timed through ball to lob Henderson and make it 2-1.
Cooper introduced Taiwo Awoniyi and Jesse Lingard in an attempt to find a leveller, replacing Dennis and Freuler.
The Reds threw everything at the visitors in search of the equaliser, with substitute Awoniyi heading over Williams’ cross from close range before O’Brien fired a loose ball over the bar.
Sam Surridge then entrered the action as he replaced Cook for six minutes of additional time.
Forest’s persistence finally paid off in the final minute of six added on at the end of the 90, Ben Mee’s clearance off his own goal line rebounded against fellow defender Zanka to hand The Reds a deserved share of the spoils on Trentside.
Full time: Nottingham Forest 2-2 Brentford
Starting XI: Dean Henderson, Steve Cook (Sam Surridge 88'), Emmanuel Dennis (Taiwo Awoniyi 79’), Morgan Gibbs-White, Brennan Johnson, Cheikhou Kouyaté (Lewis O'Brien 65’), Ryan Yates (C) (Jesse Lingard 79’), Remo Freuler, Serge Aurier, Scott McKenna, Neco Williams
Substitutes: Wayne Hennessey, Willy Boly, Joe Worrall, Renan Lodi, Orel Mangala
Goals: Gibbs-White (20’), Zanka OG (90+6’)
Brentford: David Raya; Mads Roerslev, Ben Mee, Ethan Pinnock, Rico Henry; Vitaly Janelt (Frank Onyeka 46’), Mathias Jensen, Josh Dasilva (Sergi Canos 80’); Bryan Mbeumo (Zanka 80’), Yoane Wissa, Keane Lewis-Potter (Mikkel Damsgaard 59’)
Substitutes: Matthew Cox, Mathias Jørgensen, Ryan Trevitt, Saman Ghoddos, Yegor Yarmoliuk, Tristan Crama
Goals: Mbuemo (45+3’), Wissa (75’)
Referee: Andre Marriner