Brentford delivered a statement performance on the road with a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest, further enhancing their reputation as one of the Premier League's most effective away sides in 2025. The result marks Forest’s third defeat in their last four league games, derailing their hopes of pushing into the top three.
Nottingham Forest came into the fixture aiming to bounce back from back-to-back home losses, but a costly defensive lapse just before half-time saw their hopes start to unravel. A rare mix-up at the back gifted Kevin Schade a golden opportunity, and the German made no mistake as he raced through to prod the ball past Matz Sels and hand the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 44th minute.
Anthony Elanga had been Forest’s brightest spark in the first half, and his switch to the left wing after the break signaled Forest’s intent to claw back into the contest. However, Brentford's discipline and decisiveness in attack soon put the game beyond reach.
Just minutes into the second half, another direct ball over the top exposed Forest’s high line. Wissa capitalized on the pressure he applied to Milenkovic, collecting the ball and calmly lifting it over the advancing Sels to double Brentford's lead. It was a mirror image of the first goal—direct, swift, and ruthless.
Despite Forest boss Nuno Espírito Santo throwing on both Taiwo Awoniyi and Chris Wood in a bid to mount a comeback, Brentford's backline—led superbly by Nathan Collins—stood firm. The Bees limited Forest to low-quality chances, with the hosts' xG of 0.97 highlighting their inefficiency in front of goal compared to Brentford's sharper 1.65.
Brentford have now won six of their last eight Premier League away games, a remarkable turnaround given they had only managed six wins in their previous 30 road trips. Their 19 away points in 2025 is a league-high, underscoring their new-found confidence and effectiveness away from the Gtech Community Stadium.
In contrast, Forest's woes continue when dominating possession—having now won just one of 16 Premier League matches since 2022 when recording 51% or more of the ball. Their inability to turn control into results is becoming a worrying trend.
With this win, Brentford climb to 49 points, keeping their European hopes alive, while Forest remain on 60 points in sixth, their momentum stalling at a crucial point in the season.
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