Key events
2 mins. Anthony Elanga has forced Aaron Hickey into a yellow card-conceding challenge already as the pair contest a high ball. The Scot cannot believe it, but he was holding Elanga. Free-kick for Forest in a decent spot.
KICK OFF!
Brentford emerge in a grey and peppermint away number, Forest are in their usual red and white. A minute’s silence for Maddy Cusack, then a rendition of Mull of Kintyre. And we’re off.
Jeremy Boyce has emailed in his prediction just in time for kick-off:
I am ‘betting’ on a Forest win simply Beecause Brentford seem totally out of sorts at the mo, whereas Stevie’s boys always seem to find something. Bet you I win the bet ! Double or quits if not…
Right, we’re almost ready for this one to get rocking. Where’s your money? I’m saying goals, goals and goals (I realise that’s a cop-out of a prediction).
Hmmm…
“He hasn’t been dropped”
Steve Cooper explains why Morgan Gibbs-White isn’t starting for Forest against Brentford 🔊 pic.twitter.com/nqv4h5EO1L
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 1, 2023
The xG boys really like Brentford; there’s a sense they’ve underperformed this season – and they certainly did last week in losing 3-1 at home to Everton. Their solitary league victory this season came in a 3-0 gimme at 10-man Fulham on the second weekend, while September brought just a single point. Playing away does seem to suit them, but the City ground will be fervent and bang up for this, as always.
The PGMOL once again finds itself in a mess amid yesterday’s VAR controversy at Tottenham. One of today’s officials has been taken off duty after his mistake.
Darren England, VAR on the Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool fixture, and Dan Cook, AVAR on the same game, have been replaced for the Nottingham Forest v Brentford and Fulham v Chelsea matches today and tomorrow night.
— paul joyce (@_pauljoyce) October 1, 2023
Don’t forget the Women’s Super League gets under way today and you can follow the action here:
You could interpret either formation as 4-2-3-1, or 4-3-3, depending on your viewpoint – what’s clear is both managers are set up to attack. There’s an awful lot of pace and skill in that Forest frontline. I’m looking forward to seeing Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi in particular. It’s an interesting call to leave Morgan Gibbs-White, mind you. Brazilian left-back Murillo is making his debut.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank has encouraged Keane Lewis-Potter, 22 and formerly of Hull, to step up and grasp the opportunity he’s been handed by the absence of Kevin Schade. He plays off the left today, with Bryan Mbeumo on the right.
Team news
Nottingham Forest: Turner, Aurier, Boly, Niakhaté, Murillo, Domínguez, Sangaré, Mangala, Hudson-Odoi, Elanga, Awonyi
Subs: Odysseas, Worrall, Kouyaté, Santos, Gibbs-White, Wood, Toffolo, Origi, Montiel.
Brentford: Flekken, Ajer, Collins, Pinnock, Hickey, Nørgaard, Jensen, Janelt, Lewis-Potter, Mbeumo, Wissa
Subs: Strakosha, Zanka, Onyeka, Roerslev, Yamoliuk, Brierley, Ghoddos, Maupay, Olakigbe.
Preamble
Good afternoon folks! There’s not exactly a feast of Premier League football to sate us this Sunday afternoon, but this game between Nottingham Forest and Brentford has plenty of intrigue surrounding it, for sure, with one point separating the teams in the table. Neither side have begun the season in stunning fashion, yet neither will be entertaining thoughts of a relegation battle this season – and hence this is a game both will fancy winning.
Brentford have a number of injury issues to go with the long-term absence of Ivan Toney, while Forest are going to assess Arsenal loanee Nuno Tavares, who is a doubt. We’ll run you through the teamsheets – which are just dropping right about now – in the next post. Do stay tuned.
