Nottingham Forest vs Brentford Preview – Premier League 2025-26 | Form, Injuries, Lineups & Prediction | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest vs Brentford Preview – The City Ground is set for an intriguing opening-day battle as Nottingham Forest kick off their Premier League campaign against a Brentford side entering a transitional phase under new boss Keith Andrews. Forest are fresh from qualifying for European football for the first time in decades, while Brentford are adjusting to life without Bryan Mbeumo and former manager Thomas Frank. Both will see this as a winnable fixture, but their pre-season trajectories tell very different stories.

Current Form

Forest’s pre-season was all about defensive solidity – but the lack of goals is a real concern. They played seven friendlies and failed to win any, drawing five and losing twice. Their only goal came in a 3-1 defeat to Fulham at Motspur Park. Those five goalless draws (against Chesterfield, Monaco, Estoril Praia, Fiorentina and Al-Qadsiah) highlight the challenge of breaking down organised defences, even in non-competitive fixtures. New signing Dan Ndoye showed flashes of pace and directness, but service to the strikers has been limited, something to worry about for Nottingham Forest this season.

Brentford, by contrast, have had a short but effective pre-season. They beat QPR 1-0 thanks to a Fabio Carvalho strike, drew 1-1 with Gil Vicente in Portugal, and impressed in a 2-2 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach where Mikkel Damsgaard and Keane Lewis-Potter linked well. Their build-up play looked sharper, and they pressed higher than in previous seasons – a sign that Keith Andrews might look for more front-foot football. Brentford will miss massively both Bryan Mbeumo and Yoanne Wissa this season, and it won’t be a surprise to see them struggle early on.

Head-to-Head Record

In the Premier League era, Forest and Brentford have been evenly matched. Forest won 2-1 at the City Ground last December thanks to a late strike from Chris Wood, while the return fixture in April finished 2-2 in a chaotic contest. Brentford have won twice in the last five meetings, with both victories coming at home.

Historically, Brentford have often troubled Forest’s backline with their wide play and quick rotations between midfield and attack. However, Forest’s recent home record in this fixture is strong – unbeaten in their last three at the City Ground against the Bees.

Injury News & Suspensions

Nottingham Forest:

Brentford:

Injury Summary Table

Manager Quotes

Nuno Espirito Santo (Forest): “We’ve built a strong defensive base over the summer. Now it’s about finding the right rhythm in attack. The players know the responsibility that comes with starting at home.”Keith Andrews (Brentford): “The energy in this group is good. We’ve integrated some exciting players and the pre-season performances have given me encouragement. We want to make a statement from the start.”

Predicted Lineups

Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Sels; Williams, Milenković, Murillo, Aina; Yates, Anderson; Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Ndoye; Wood.Brentford (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, Berg, Henry; Jensen, Damsgaard; Yarmoliuk, Carvalho, Lewis-Potter; Thiago.

Tactical Preview & Key Battles

Forest are likely to prioritise compactness, sitting in a mid-block and looking to spring counters through Hudson-Odoi and Ndoye. Gibbs-White will be tasked with finding pockets of space between Brentford’s midfield and defence. Chris Wood will aim to pin centre-backs, allowing wingers to run off him. The lack of goals in pre-season means set pieces will be vital – Milenković and Murillo are major aerial threats.

Brentford will likely adopt a 4-2-3-1 that morphs into a 4-4-2 out of possession. Damsgaard and Jensen will aim to control the midfield tempo, while Carvalho drifts inside from the left to link with Lewis-Potter. Rico Henry’s overlaps could be key to stretching Forest’s shape, and Yarmoliuk’s ability to run beyond the striker will test the home side’s defensive discipline.

Predicted Scoreline

Nottingham Forest 1-0 Brentford

Forest’s home form may keep them competitive, but Brentford’s sharper attack from pre-season could see them challenge, expect a poor game with both sides being cagey.

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