Nottingham Forest travelled to the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon for Premier League action to face Brentford FC in the capital.
Steve Cooper was forced into 1 change from the side that beat Brighton at The City Ground on Wednesday evening with Joe Worrall coming into the starting XI to replace the injured Neco Williams.
Ryan Yates also featured in the matchday squad for the first time since picking up an injury against Everton at the start of March.
It was a quiet opening 20 minutes in the capital with chances few and far between for both sides. Forest had looked to get in down the right-hand side, however Aurier’s cross was just too far in front of Brennan Johnson at the front post. The home side had managed to register the first shot on target with Bryan Mbeumo taking aim from range but his effort was saved comfortably by Keylor Navas.
The first booking of the afternoon went to Rico Henry after he cynically brought down Brennan Johnson as the Reds looked to launch a counter-attack. Felipe also found himself in the referee’s notebook soon after on 34 minutes for bringing down Schade just outside the penalty area.
Brentford had struggled to break down the Forest defence and the home side did well to sniff out any danger the Reds posed on the counter-attack meaning the opening 40 minutes was a quiet affair at the Gtech Community Stadium.
It took 42 minutes for the first real chance of the game, and it fell to the home side. With the ball pinging around a congested penalty area the ball finally fell to Ethan Pinnock, but Navas was able to save well with his feet, before Forest cleared their lines.
Referee Peter Banks added 1 additional minute to the first half and Forest found themselves in front in stoppage time. A long throw in from Moussa Niakhaté fell to Morgan Gibbs-White on the edge of the box and his shot deflected through to Danilo who fired a first-time strike into the top corner to register his second Premier League goal of the week.
Half-time: Brentford FC 0-1 Nottingham Forest
Steve Cooper made an early change in the second half with Andre Ayew coming on to replace Taiwo Awoniyi on 54 minutes. Ayew quickly picked up a booking though as he interfered with David Raya attempting to kick the ball out of his hands.
On the hour mark Brentford then decided to make a double change with Yoane Wissa and Josh Dasilva coming on to replace Rico Henry and Mikkel Damsgaard.
Forest’s first shot on target in the second half fell to the in-form Morgan Gibbs-White after he was played in by substitute Ayew, but his effort was comfortably held by David Raya.
On 65 minutes, Steve Cooper made another change with Cheikhou Kouyaté replacing Brennan Johnson. Thomas Frank then made his second double change of the half with Matheius Jensen and Vitaly Janelt making way for Shandon Baptiste and Frank Onyeka.
Forest troubled Raya in the Brentford goal on 72 minutes with an acrobatic attempt, whilst sat on the floor, from Moussa Niakhaté. As the ball dropped Niakhaté used his initiative to get his acrobatic shot away forcing Raya into a reaction save.
Quickly after Brentford made their final change of the afternoon with Saman Ghoddos coming on to replace Kevin Schade.
It was then Brentford defender Ben Mee who tried an acrobatic attempt. With the ball dropping after Forest cleared away a corner, Mee went for the spectacular, but his attempt flew over the top of the bar.
Ryan Yates then made his return to Premier League action replacing Orel Mangala with 10 minutes left on the clock.
Brentford equalised with a freekick on 82 minutes from Ivan Toney whose strike was initially saved by Navas only for the ball to hit the inside of the post and find the back of the net.
Keylor Navas was then called into action again with a great reaction save from a long range deflected effort as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes.
Danilo was then forced off with an injury which meant Forest had to play with additional 7 minutes with 10 men due to having already made substitutions on 3 separate occasions.
Brentford made the extra man count with substitute Josh Dasilva beating Lodi on the left before getting away his shot which beat Navas at the near post.
Forest fought hard in stoppage time but struggled to trouble Brentford and the home side claimed all 3 points.
Full-time: Brentford 2-1 Nottingham Forest
LINE UPS:
Nottingham Forest: Keylor Navas, Serge Aurier, Moussa Niakhaté. Joe Worrall, Felipe, Renan Lodi, Danilo, Orel Mangala (Ryan Yates 81’), Morgan Gibbs-White, Brennan Johnson (Cheikhou Kouyaté 66’), Taiwo Awoniyi (Andre Ayew 54’)
Substitutes: Wayne Hennessey, Remo Freuler, Harry Toffolo, Jesse Lingard, Sam Surridge, Emmanuel Dennis
Goal: Danilo (45+1)
Brentford: David Raya, Aaron Hickey, Rico Henry (Yoane Wissa 60’), Ethan Pinnock, Mathias Jensen (Shandon Baptiste 71’), Kevin Schade (Saman Ghoddos 77’), Ben Mee, Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo, Mikkel Damsgaard (Josh Dasilva 60’), Vitaly Janelt (Frank Onyeka 71’)
Substitutes: Matthew Cox, Zanka, Mads Roerslev, Finley Stevens
Goals: Ivan Toney (82’), Josh Dasilva (90+4’)
Referee: Peter Bankes
Attendance: 17,080