Premier League: The Bees are Buzzing for a European Football Push

Brentford vs Nottingham Forest

Keith Andrews is making a strong case to be one of the top contenders for this year’s Premier League Manager of the Year award for helping Brentford get to where they are now. When Thomas Frank left for Tottenham last summer, the Bees were supposed be in the relegation mix, but here they are, seventh in the English top-flight standings with 33 points, with a European football berth within their reach.

Brentford were on a six-game unbeaten run in all competitions (W5, D1), which ended at the hands of Chelsea on Saturday at Stamford Bridge. So, they’re planning to bounce back when they host Nottingham Forest at the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday.

Nottingham Forest have gone through a great deal of turmoil this season. The Tricky Trees are the 17th seed with 22 points, only five points adrift of the relegation zone. Sean Dyche’s side is winless in their last three games across all competitions (D1, L2).

 

Talking Points

Thiago brings optimism to Brentford

Brentford are punching above their weight this season, mainly because of Igor Thiago’s exploits in the final third. With 16 league goals, the 24-year-old striker has become the highest Brazilian scorer in a single Premier League season, putting him second in the Golden Boot race behind Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.

Thiago will be eager to rip the net against Nottingham Forest as he didn’t score against Chelsea and Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup third round last week. But before that, he scored five goals against Sunderland (brace) and Everton (hat-trick). 

The Bees are particularly dangerous in the closing minutes, as Keith Andrews’ side has scored 13 goals after the 75th minute – including six in stoppage time. It also helps that Nottingham Forest have conceded a league-high 12 league goals in the same period.

There’s more good news for Brentford, as Jordan Henderson could return this Sunday. The veteran midfielder missed the Chelsea match last Saturday, having picked up an ankle injury against Sheffield Wednesday. Meanwhile, Kristoffer Ajer just signed a new deal with the Bees to extend his stay until 2030, with a team option of a further year. The 27-year-old defender has played 16 times in the Premier League this season, either as a left-back or centre-back.

 

Nottingham Forest are toothless in the final third

Nottingham Forest are tiptoeing around the relegation zone, as they’ve been inefficient in the final third this season. Only Wolves (15) have scored fewer Premier League goals this term than them. Morgan Gibbs-White is their top scorer with five, while Callum Hudson-Odoi (three) is the only player to outscore Chris Wood (two), despite the New Zealander’s extended absence.

The Tricky Trees’ low attacking output isn’t due to the lack of volume. They rank inside the Top 10 for shots taken (266), although a third of those (98) have come from outside the box. During their current winless run, they failed to score against Arsenal and Braga in the Europa League, while losing to Wrexham in a penalty shootout in the FA Cup third round.

 

History

Nottingham Forest, under former manager Nuno Espirito Santo, won 3-1 against Brentford in the reverse fixture at City Ground last August to deal Keith Andrews his first loss as the Bees head coach. Chris Wood bagged a brace, and Dan Ndoye was also on the scoresheet for the Tricky Trees, while Igor Thiago scored a late consolation penalty.

The Tricky Trees aim to complete a league double over Brentford for the third time, previously doing so in 2006-07 (League One) and 2019-20 (Championship). Sean Dyche has won four of his six Premier League meetings with Brentford (D1, L1), which represents his highest win rate against any side he’s faced more than twice (67-per cent).

 

Betting Tip

The Premier League 2026 odds expect Brentford to breeze past Nottingham Forest on Sunday. The Bees are pegged to win at 1.95, while the Tricky Trees are 3.59 underdogs, and a draw is at 3.22 in the 1X2 market. Arguably, Nottingham Forest need this win more than their hosts.

Based on their recent meetings, Brentford and Nottingham Forest should produce enough Premier League 2026 highlights from this fixture. Besides our recommended bet, SBOTOP punters may also consider adding Over 2.25 at 1.74, Over 2.50 at 2.04, Over 2.75 at 2.28, and Total Goal 2-3 at 1.97 to the parlay. Meanwhile, the Correct Score of 3-1 in favour of Nottingham Forest – the result of their previous league meeting this term – seems like a long shot at 42.00 your bet.

   

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