“,”elementId”:”ed4a9c58-3f0c-4979-a794-582138d4e917″}]”attribute”: { “pinned”: false, keyevent “: true, “summary “: false},” “blockcreatedon”: 1746124005000, “blockcreatedondisplay”: 14.26 edt “, “blocklastupdated”: 17461242101000, “blockfirstpublished”: 1746124211000, “blockfirstpublisheddisplay”: 14.30 edt “, “blockfirstpublisheddisplaynotimezone”: 14.30 “, “title “: ” kick off”, “contributors”:[]”PrimaryDateline”: “May 1, 2025 14.41 EDT”, “DecondaryDateline”: “First May 1, 2025 13.15 EDT”}, {” ID “:” 6813ACF98F088213E42D74AD”, “Elements “:”[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Yates, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
“,”elementId”:”0140493d-8c09-4e2f-a6a9-2228347c4056″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Subs: Miguel, Morato, Sangare, Awoniyi, Toffolo, Dominguez, Jota, Sosa, Abbott
“,”elementId”:”32d3321b-30e5-4870-a73e-e769bf65ffa3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Brentford (4-3-3): Flekken; Kayode, Collins, Van den Berg, Lewis-Potter; Norgaard, Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard; Schade, Wissa, Mbeumo
“,”elementId”:”9c886595-9427-4ffe-a4c9-a2d474df6eb2″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Subs: Valdimarsson, Henry, Pinnock, Jensen, Mee, Ajer, Konak, Maghoma, Nunes
“,”elementId”:”5fd62f96-d823-4962-b4d7-8bcee37d8042″}]”attribute”: { “pinned”: false, keyevent “: true, “summary “: false},” “blockcreatedon”: 1746119929000, “blockcreatedondisplay”: 13.18 edt “, “blocklastupdated”: 1746119977000, “blockfirstpublisheddisplay”: 1746119977000, “blockfirstpublisheddisplay”: 13.19 edt “, “blockfirstpublisheddisplaynotimezone”: 13.19 “, ” title “:” starting lineups “, ” novtrors “:”[]”PrimaryDateLine”: “Thu 1U 1 14.41 EDT”, “SecondaryDateline”: “May 1, 2025 13.15 EDT”}, {” ID “:” 681103018F08F0938CF48DB7 “, “Elements “:” ID “:” ID “:” 68110303018F08F0938CF48DB7″:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
After the distraction of an FA Cup semi-final and a trip to Wembley, Forest are back to the day job of battling for a Champions League place. It’s been an incredible season at the City Ground, regardless of whether they finish in the top five or not. Nuno Espirito Santo and his squad will be determined to not let a potentially feat slip from their grasp.
“,”elementId”:”c6806c51-1999-41c9-93a5-11e3bdb77463″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Forest currently sit sixth but have a game in hand on their rivals and a win tonight will take them up to third, for 24 hours at least. Three of the five remaining games are at home, including the difficult task of Chelsea in a couple of weeks. Nine points will be the aim from these fixtures as they look to fight off the competition for a lucrative European tour.
“,”elementId”:”e7947d07-9ad2-4856-a4d4-34132d4d9660″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Brentford, on the other hand, are 11th and potentially on the beach with only a limited chance of qualifying for Europe. I am sure Thomas Frank will not let his team take it easy but it must be difficult to concentrate when there is almost nothing to play for.
“,”elementId”:”b93af2b9-8c7c-4b7e-bc1e-f63b18cf7f0d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Kick-off: 7.30pm BST
“,”elementId”:”e8f33cdc-c19e-4be5-a5e4-56ab6036eabc”}]”attribute”: { “pinned”: false, keyevent “: true, “summary “: false},” “blockcreatedon”: 1746119743000, “blockcreatedondisplay”: 13.15 edt “, “blocklastupdated”: 1746119621000, “13.13 edt “, “blockfirstpublisheddisplay”: 1746119743000, “blockfirstpublisheddisplay”: 13.15 edt “, “blockfirstpublisheddisplaynotimezone”: 13.15 “, ” title: ” preamble “, ” intributors “: : :[]”Primary Datrin”: “May 1, 2025 14.41 EDT”, “SecondaryDateline”: “May 1, 2025 13.15 EDT”}]”false”: “false”: “key-events-carousel-mobile”, “abstaruteertime”:fals, “wed””>” false “:” key-events-carousel-mobile”, “key-events-carousel-mobile”, “key-events-carousel-mobile”, “key-events-carousel-mobile”, “false”>
Important Events
12 minutes: Lewis Potter hits Elanga with his intentional shoulder at the winger. I think that's a perceived reward from previous conflicts. A bit ridiculous from the Brentford guy.
Wissa is Forest's long-term goal and I think they'll bid him again when they get Champions League football. They had been interested in shades before.
10 minutes: Propulsion is provided by Aina, dashing to the right. Nigeria International sends low crosses that are behind the wood and collected by Gibbs White.
The forest man then charges for the tackle of Shade and is booked.
8 minutes: A very active start from Brentford. Forest looks a bit slow and needs to raise things to get into the game.
6 minutes: Damsgaard is trying to tip the ball over the top for Mbeumo, but Murillo uses his power to avoid latching into a pass.
Lewis Potter is on the ground after trying Elanga for the header. There's nothing there, but you can understand that the Brentford man is in pain after a violent landing.
4 minutes: Damsgard whips from the left into the corner, over almost everyone and eventually reaches Norgad. There are some early creases on the back due to the forest.
2 minutes: The forest was owned in the early stages. Aina whips the cross, but Frecken makes a point.
On the other hand, Damsguard finds a shade at the back post and from there nods it into a dangerous area, but Murillo is there to clear it.
kick off
peek! peek! peek! Let's go!
The player is in the tunnel…
Frank speaks: “We need to focus on being very exceptional. We need to focus on one game at a time. Big game in Nottingham, big game for us.
“We have to play, believe in ourselves and make sure it's as much of our terms as possible. It's a good team we're facing there, but we're confident. The last 11 games are good.”
Nuno speaks: “All games are the biggest. These make a lot of sense. They're not just these games.
“You have to compete with a very good team. They're all fighting for everything. We have one outcome.
“When you're disappointed, you're not happy. That's not an advantage. But it's how you react from that moment of sadness.”
I've traveled several times to urban ground this season, so I'll be thriving tonight on the banks of the Trent River.
At this point it's a lovely night in Nottingham, just like in other parts of the UK. Hopefully it will cool well for this early kickoff.
Obviously, this is the biggest match of the night, but if you want more European flavor…
Or Ben Fisher from Beer with Vittle.
A few pre-match readings in the forest. Certainly, both of these have been written (by me) over the past two weeks, but that's all good insights, right?
Some interesting forest news yesterday. It doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things.
Forest appears to have full strength with Olaaina back to the right back after the injury.
Starting lineup
Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Cell; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams. Yates, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
submarine: Miguel, Morato, Sangale, Awoniyi, Toffolo, Dominguez, Jota, Sosa, Abbott
Brentford (4-3-3): flekken; Kayode, Collins, Vandenberg, Lewis Potter. Norgaard, Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard; Schade, Wissa, Mbeumo
submarine: Valdimarsson, Henry, Pinnock, Jensen, Mee, Ajer, Konak, Maghoma, Nunes
preamble
After a distraction in the FA Cup semi-finals and a trip to Wembley, Forest is back on the day he competes at Champions League locations. Whether they finish in the top five or not, it was an incredible season at City Grounds. Nuno Espirito Santo and his team decide that potentially feats don't slip from their grasp.
Forest is currently sitting in sixth place, but has got the match from his rivals, and with tonight's victory, he will be third for at least 24 hours. Three of the remaining five games are at home. This includes Chelsea's tough tasks a few weeks later. The 9 points are aimed from these fixtures as they aim to compete against the competitive European tour.
Meanwhile, Brentford is 11th and is on the beach with only a limited chance of potentially competing in Europe. Thomas Frank is sure he won't let his team make it easier, but it must be hard to focus if there's little to play.
Kick-off: 7:30pm BST
