Nottingham Forest v Brentford preview: Bees still looking for away win
Defensive efforts like that are why Steve Cooper’s men currently find themselves at the foot of the PL table, having conceded 28 goals this league campaign, their highest tally after 13 league games since the 1960/61 season (31).
In search of a response, Forest will be pleased to be back at the City Ground where they’ve won seven of their nine PL points this season and scored seven of their eight league goals too.
That should give them some confidence ahead of their first-ever top-flight meeting with Brentford, as should their record of losing only one of the last five H2Hs (W3, D1).
Although Brentford have only won one more league match than their hosts this season (W3, D6, L4), they find themselves six points better off in 11th place, courtesy of proving tough to beat with a joint league-high six draws.
One of those draws came in their last match with Wolves which ended 1-1, although manager Thomas Frank would’ve been disappointed sharing the spoils after his side netted the opener for only the fourth time this league campaign.
A point might not be the worst result for Frank’s side here considering they’ve lost their last two away matches by a staggering combined score of 9-1, keeping them winless on the road this league season (D3, L3).
The Bees need to work on protecting the hive if they’re to start picking up points on their travels, having kept only one clean sheet in their last 22 away PL matches.
Players to watch: Forest’s hero against Liverpool Taiwo Awoniyi (25) has scored in each of his last 11 club goals at home, while for Brentford, with topscorer Ivan Toney (26) suspended they may look to Bryan Mbeumo (23) to provide the difference as they’ve won 29 of the 31 games in which he’s found the net for the club (D1, L1).
Hot stat: Brentford have seen the same half-time result replicated at full-time in 12 of their 14 games this season.
