NOTTINGHAM FOREST BRENTFORD SO MOUCH TO ENJOY ‘That was our best yet,’ says Forest boss Sabri
NFOREST BRENTFORD 4 ........ Shots on Target ......... 3 7 ........Shots off Target ......... 4 9 ................Corners .................5 7 .................. Fouls .................... 9 3 ............... Offsides .................. 1 82.4 . Passing Success % .....81.7 370 .......Total Passes .........497 43 ........Possession % ......... 57 56.7..Territorial Adv % ...43.3 BEN WATSON’S winner extended Nottingham Forest’s unbeaten run to 10 games as their resurgence under Sabri Lamouchi continued.
It was the Forest captain’s second goal in successive home games – having previously gone over three years without finding the net – and it lifted his buoyant team up to second in the table.
Lamouchi (right) said: “It was a very good performance. I’m so impressed to be honest because it has been an amazing month.
“We were unbelievable, all the players today. They were passionate, they respected the plan.
“We scored at a good time, maybe we should have scored a second to finish with less pressure.
“We have been working together for three months now and today was the best we have played so far.
“Everyone was giving
their best for the team and working together. I’m happy to be where we are but I’m just focused on the next couple of games.”
Joe Lolley was the first player to threaten as let fly with a shot that Brentford keeper David Raya took comfortably.
Forest almost took the lead in freak fashion when Raya punched a Tiago Silva corner into team-mate Julian Jeanvier’s back and was relieved to see the rebound drop i nches wide.
Silva thought he had a penalty two minutes later but referee Dean Whitestone decided that Mathias Jensen got to the ball first.
Forest’s Portuguese midfielder was in the thick of the action and he sent a dipping free- kick inches wide of Raya’s post after Jeanvier had brought down Yuri Ribeiro in a dangerous area.
At the other end, Josh Dasilva curled an effort straight into Brice Samba’s arms following a neat passing move.
Then Bryan Mbeumo ballooned a header over from close range.
On the stroke of halftime, Jensen fired in a freekick that took a wicked deflection, forcing Samba into a brilliant save. Forest were back on top after the break and it took last-ditch Henrik Dalsgaard tackle to keep Lewis Grabban out.
Brentford’s relief was short-lived as Joe Worrall headed the resulting corner back across the box for Watson to hook a volley into the net.
Brentford boss Thomas Frank said: “I’m not too disappointed.
“It was our third game in seven days and we were away against a fine side and it took a set-piece for them to win it.”