Nottingham Forest’s aspirations for a strong finish to the Premier League season took a hit after a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Brentford. The loss at the City Ground was particularly costly, as it dashed Forest’s hopes of moving up to third place with their game in hand. Goals from Kevin Schade and Yoane Wissa, both resulting from balls over the top, sealed the victory for the visitors. With only four games remaining, Forest’s chances of securing a Champions League spot are now out of their hands, as they currently sit sixth in the table.
Nuno Espirito Santo said: “We are here because we deserve to be in this run. It is a tough one. But now that we are (here), we have to give it our all. But we don’t give chances away because we have talent and speed. This has to be, and it is, my major concern. We have been talking about how we are as a team and defensively we don’t allow too many situations. We have had a lot of clean sheets. This is the basic pillar we have, but today it was the other way around. We credit Brentford, but I believe with a better approach we could have solved the situations.”
Nuno Espirito Santo added: “I don’t attribute that to a mental aspect of it. Normally our players don’t rush their decisions. All these aspects have to do with the mental aspect. No one will be able to see your personal information and you will only receive messages from the NottinghamshireLive Reds writers. We don’t see (the pressure) it but we feel it. We felt at half-time that after a first half that was not played well by both teams, we should go to the dressing room at 0-0, correct and go again. The explanation for that we have to find in ourselves. But the reality is we are struggling in some aspects of our game – focus and determination to be practical and solve the situations that are simple to solve.”
The defeat against Brentford came on the heels of Forest’s FA Cup semi-final loss to Manchester City at Wembley, which may have contributed to the team’s current challenges. Despite the setback, Nuno Espirito Santo remains focused on the positives, emphasizing the team’s defensive strengths and the importance of maintaining focus and determination. The head coach acknowledged Brentford’s performance but suggested that with a better approach, Forest could have managed the game differently. As the season nears its conclusion, Forest will need to address these issues to maximize their remaining opportunities.
