Brentford 0-2 Nottingham Forest: Aina and Elanga snap unbeaten home run

Nottingham Forest ended Brentford's unbeaten Premier League home record this season with an excellent performance in a 2-0 win at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Of their 23 points this season, 22 have come at home for Brentford, but goals either side of the break from Ola Aina and Anthony Elanga on Saturday ended their impressive streak, as Forest picked up a fifth league win on the road in 2024-25.

Aina's strike seven minutes before the break was a reward for Forest's patience following a bright Brentford start, with Mikkel Damsgaard and Yoane Wissa having gone close.

It was a defensive error that handed Elanga an early Christmas gift shortly after the interval. Keane Lewis-Potter's mistake was seized upon by the former Manchester United winger, and Brentford never looked likely to mount a comeback.

The victory moved Forest, at least temporarily, up into third, and they are sure to head into Christmas in the top four.

THE MIGHTY FOREST. pic.twitter.com/PzwmhVitAY

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) December 21, 2024

Data Debrief: Bees attack lacks its sting

Brentford fans were hoping home comforts would ensure a merry Christmas, but their injury-hit squad was exposed by a well-drilled performance from the visitors.

Aina and Elanga's goals highlighted the issues in defence for Brentford, with both goals coming from defensive mistakes, but the lack of potency in attack was a bigger point of frustration for Thomas Frank.

Eight of Bryan Mbeumo's 10 Premier League goals this season have come at home and strike partner Yoane Wissa has netted eight of his nine at the Gtech. However, both players struggled to make an impact on the match, with Wissa failing to register a shot on target, and Mbeumo only testing Matz Sels once.

The pair are crucial to Brentford's attacking output, and with the Bees only registering chances worth 0.8 expected goals (xG), which is their lowest at home in their last six Premier League games, it is clear that Forest shackled the Bees' stars well.

Meanwhile, Forest have collected 31 points from their 17 Premier League games this season (W9 D4 L4); it is the earliest they have attained 30+ points in a top-flight season since finishing third in 1987-88 (14th game).