Brentford vs Nottingham Forest Preview: Team News & Prediction
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One of the stories of the season so far, Nottingham Forest know that victory away at Brentford guarantees them a place in the top four over Christmas.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 21st December, 2024: UK – 3:00pm / US ET – 10:00am / US PT – 7:00am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Peacock Premium
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – Premier League
Brentford Preview: Aiming for sixth straight home win
Brentford have proven utterly formidable this season at the Gtech Community Stadium, winning each of their last five home Premier League fixtures. It’s not just the results themselves that have been so impressive, the Bees’ attacking prowess must also be acclaimed. Thomas Frank’s side have racked up an incredible 20 goals over the course of those five games, scoring at least three times on each occasion.
However, their contrasting form on the road means they remain in mid-table, but three points here could see them move up into the top eight, depending on results elsewhere over the course of the weekend.
Nottingham Forest Preview: Dream season continues
Nottingham Forest looked like slipping to a fifth league defeat of the campaign after going behind at home to Aston Villa in the second half of their game last Saturday evening. But if there’s one thing Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have by the bucketload, it’s resilience and they showed that in a big way against last season’s surprise package.
With three minutes to go, Forest equalised through Nikola Milenkovic and it got even better for them in stoppage time as Anthony Elanga scored a winner to send the City Ground into raptures. With that result, Forest overtook champions Man City and moved into the top four.
Brentford Team News: Changes in backline expected
Hamstring and groin injuries suffered by Ethan Pinnock and Sepp van den Berg respectively will force Frank to alter his defence for the visit of Notts Forest. Mads Roerslev is likely to start at right-back, whilst Ben Mee should partner Nathan Collins. Striker Igor Thiago is out through a joint infection and Frank will have to choose whether to stick with the front three of Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa and Kevin Schade, or to bring in Fabio Carvalho.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Flekken; Roerslev, Collins, Mee; Ajer, Janelt, Norgaard, Lewis-Potter; Mbeumo, Schade; Wissa
Unavailable: Hickey (Injured), Pinnock (Injured), Dasilva (Injured), Jensen (Injured), Nunes (Fitness), Igor Thiago (Injured)
Questionable: Van den Berg (Injured), Henry (Fitness)
Nottingham Forest Team News: Moreno expected to return
After being unable to feature against his parent club, left-back Alex Moreno should be back among the starters at Brentford. Ryan Yates twisted his ankle in last Saturday’s game and Murillo suffered a knock, but both are hoping to be available for selection here. However, this match comes too soon for both Danilo and Ibrahim Sangare.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Morato, Moreno; Anderson, Ward-Prowse; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Unavailable: Danilo (Injured), Sangare (Injured)
Questionable: Murillo (Injured), Yates (Injured)
Brentford vs Nottingham Forest Prediction
Whenever a Premier League fixture takes place at the Gtech Community Stadium, we always expect plenty of goals. Each of Brentford’s last five home games in the top flight have seen the ball find the net at least five times and although Nottingham Forest are challenging opposition, the Bees are unlikely to alter their attractively offensive playstyle.
Each of the visitors’ most recent four Premier League fixtures on the road have ended with at least three goals being scored and it’s now been six away league matches for Forest without a clean sheet to their name. When taking all this into account, it would be a surprise if we didn’t see over 3.5 goals across 90 minutes in this one, regardless of the final outcome.
Brentford vs Nottingham Forest Tip: Over 3.5 goals
