Nottingham Forest recorded a surprising 2-0 victory over Brentford on Sunday, with the Brazilian striker Igor Jesus (£5.8 million) eclipsed his compatriot Igor Thiago (£7.2 million).
Here are our scout notes from Gtech Community Stadium.
THIAGO BLANK
Only three teams have earned more points at home than Brentford in 2025/26.
But Keith Andrews’ side, who saw a six-match unbeaten run in the Premier League ended at Stamford Bridge last week, failed to capitalize on their first-half dominance on Sunday and suffered their first defeat at the Gtech Community Stadium since Gameweek 7.
In a disappointing attacking display, they squandered three Opta-defined ‘big chances’, failing to find the net for the second consecutive game.
They fell well below their usual high standards in west London and also failed to register a single shot on target after the break.
Managed by more than 390,000 managers, Thiago had chances but missed one of the aforementioned big chances when he shot wide from Kevin Damage‘s (£7.2m) cross.
Another effort was poked wide from a tight angle, but apart from that he regularly found himself isolated in the final third, with the impressive Nikola Milenkovic (£5.1 million) and Murillo (£5.2 million) is firmly on top.
“We didn’t feed him enough and he is now well marked. Everyone knows him and how he plays, so we have to find new ways to serve him.” – Keith Andrews on Igor Thiago
Some of Brentford’s other best chances came from Michael Kayode‘s (£4.5 million) throw-in, with substitute Sepp van den Berg (£4.5m) headed just past the near post on the stroke of half-time.
Ajer + Damsgard injuries
Brentford were forced into a few early changes on Sunday Kristoffer Ajer (£4.4 million) and Mikkel Damsgaard (£5.7m) both with injuries.
“Kristoffer has an ankle injury and Dams has a knee injury. We will see in the next two days when we have calmed things down. Scans will be done and hopefully we can get some positive news on that front.” – Keith Andrews on Kristoffer Ajer and Mikkel Damsgaard
Before his withdrawal, Damsgaard impressed.
“Dams played well in the game. He looked back to his brilliant best, playing between the lines and wanting to create. It’s the best part of his game when he’s in that kind of form and finds areas where he can be effective.” – Keith Andrews on Mikkel Damsgaard
Van den Berg and Dango Ouattara (£5.8m) were the two they replaced.
The former has had to be patient lately, with Ajer building a solid partnership Nathan Collins (£5.0m) at the back. However, Ajer’s injury could offer Van den Berg an opportunity to regain his place.
As for Ouattara, he scored three shots (see image below), three chances created and an expected goal involvement (xGI) of 1.35 in just an hour of football, the most of any player in Gameweek 23 so far.
Above: Dango Ouattara’s goal attempts (shots on goal in green) in Gameweek 23
ANOTHER BUNCH OF CLEAN LEAFS
Forest recorded a hard-fought win here and have now recorded back-to-back clean sheets after holding Arsenal to a goalless draw last week.
Considering Brentford’s home form, plus the fact Forest played Portugal on Thursday, they deserve real credit.
It is now five clean sheets in 15 Premier League games under Sean Dyche, a period in which they have created just 26 big chances, the third fewest of any team.
Jesus’ brilliant volley put Forest ahead on Sunday before he was substituted Taiwo Awoniyi (£5.2m) added a second.
Morgan Gibbs White (£7.3m) provided the assist for the latter’s attack and has now produced an attacking return in each of his last three away games.
The goals from Jesus and Awoniyi come after Forest added another striker. Lorenzo Luccafor their team on Friday.
“It’s the way of football: you bring in a striker and then your strikers score. Sometimes that’s just the way it is. That competitive element is almost subliminal, that’s why managers do it across the board. When you bring in the freshness of different players, it often kicks into the lives of others. I don’t think they needed that, I have to say.” – Sean Dyche
Elsewhere, five Forest players collected defensive contribution points (DefCon): Milenkovic, Murillo, Neco Williams (£4.7 million), Ibrahim Sangare (£4.9 million) and Elliot Anderson (£5.3 million).
Anderson has now secured DefCon in seven consecutive matches.
Douglas Luiz (£4.9m), meanwhile missed due to disease.
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