Key events
24 mins: Aina goes past a few defenders and is then bodychecked by Lewis-Potter just outside the box. The fans want a second booking for the left-back but England is lenient this time but I am not sure how long Lewis-Potter can carry on out there. It’s his own fault for getting a very stupid booking.
22 mins: Anderson tries to instigate a break for Forest but pings for 40-yard pass straight out of play.
20 mins: Anderson commits a handball but the referee deems no further action is needed for the Forest man who has just been booked.
18 mins: Damsgaard sends in the resulting free-kick from deep on the right. It reaches Van den Berg unmarked and alone around eight yards from goal, he heads at goal but Sels does superbly to block.
Anderson soon goes into the book for a poor challenge. Forest are off it today …
16 mins: Elanga goes around Lewis-Potter and into the box, he pulls the ball back but goes down after an arm on the shoulder. Forest want a penalty but nothing is doing, according to Darren England.
Down the other end … Wissa beats Williams to the ball, leaving the only course of action for the Forest man being to take him down to stop the Brentford man getting away.
14 mins: Gibbs-White and Hudson-Odoi produce the weirdest free-kick routine I have seen for a while. Hudson-Odoi runs over the ball before Gibbs-White lambasts him for this act, claiming the former Chelsea winger should have taken the free-kick. Words are exchanged and then Gibbs-White quickly takes it. It all looks very staged. Not that any of this matters because someone is ruled offside. Hope that clears it all up.
12 mins: Lewis-Potter smashes into Elanga with a deliberate shoulder on the winger. I suspect that’s perceived payback from the previous clash. A bit silly from the Brentford man.
Wissa has been a long-term target for Forest and if they do get Champions League football, I imagine they will bid for him again. They previously had an interest in Schade, too.
10 mins: The impetus is provided by Aina who dashes down the right. The Nigeria international sends in a low cross, which goes behind Wood and collected by Gibbs-White, who takes aim but his shot is blocked.
The Forest man then lunges into a tackle on Schade and is booked.
8 mins: A very lively start from Brentford. Forest have looked a little sluggish and will need to up things to get into the game.
6 mins: Damsgaard looks to chip a ball over the top for Mbeumo but Murillo uses his strength to keep him from latching onto the pass.
Lewis-Potter is on the ground after challenging Elanga for a header. There is nothing in it but I can understand the Brentford man being in pain after a heavy landing.
4 mins: Damsgaard whips in a corner from the left, it goes over almost everyone, eventually reaching Norgaard, whose harder is blocked by Milenkovic and bundled away. A few early creaks at the back for Forest.
2 mins: Forest have had the possession in the early stages. Aina whips in a cross but it is easy for Flekken to claim.
Down the other end, Damsgaard finds Schade at the back post, from where he nods it back into a dangerous area but Murillo is there to clear.
Kick off
Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we go!
The players are in the tunnel …
Frank speaks: “We need to focus on being very exceptional, you need to focus on one game at a time. Big game for Nottingham, big game for us. Hopefully a good one to watch.
“We have to perform, believe in ourselves and make sure it’s on our terms as much as possible. It’s a good team we’re facing out there, but we’re confident. The last 11 games have been good.”
Nuno speaks: “All the games are the biggest ones. These ones mean a lot. Nothing else matters, just these games.
“You have to compete against very good teams, they all fight for everything. We have one result in our mind.
“When you are disappointed, you are not happy. It’s not an advantage. But it’s how you react from that moment of sadness.”
I am very sure, having had a few trips to the City Ground this season, it will be lively on the banks of the River Trent tonight.
As with the rest of the UK at the moment, it is a lovely night in Nottingham. Hopefully it’s cooled down sufficiently for this early kick-off.
Obviously, this is the biggest match of the night but if you want a more European flavour …
Or Ben Fisher on the beers with Vitor.
Some pre-match reading on Forest. Admittedly, these were both written (by me) over the past fortnight but it’s all good insight, isn’t it?
Some interesting Forest news yesterday. Not that it means much in the grand scheme of things.
Forest look to be at full strength with Ola Aina back at right-back after injury.
Starting lineups
Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Yates, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Subs: Miguel, Morato, Sangare, Awoniyi, Toffolo, Dominguez, Jota, Sosa, Abbott
Brentford (4-3-3): Flekken; Kayode, Collins, Van den Berg, Lewis-Potter; Norgaard, Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard; Schade, Wissa, Mbeumo
Subs: Valdimarsson, Henry, Pinnock, Jensen, Mee, Ajer, Konak, Maghoma, Nunes
Preamble
After the distraction of an FA Cup semi-final and a trip to Wembley, Forest are back to the day job of battling for a Champions League place. It’s been an incredible season at the City Ground, regardless of whether they finish in the top five or not. Nuno Espirito Santo and his squad will be determined to not let a potentially feat slip from their grasp.
Forest currently sit sixth but have a game in hand on their rivals and a win tonight will take them up to third, for 24 hours at least. Three of the five remaining games are at home, including the difficult task of Chelsea in a couple of weeks. Nine points will be the aim from these fixtures as they look to fight off the competition for a lucrative European tour.
Brentford, on the other hand, are 11th and potentially on the beach with only a limited chance of qualifying for Europe. I am sure Thomas Frank will not let his team take it easy but it must be difficult to concentrate when there is almost nothing to play for.
Kick-off: 7.30pm BST
