Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the English Premier League match.
Nottingham Forest return to European competition and play at home, but their pre-season form raises concerns. Brentford are undergoing a rebuild after the departure of Thomas Frank and several key players, yet they have added experienced names and could spring a surprise.
Nottingham Forest
Last season, Nottingham Forest were in contention for a Champions League spot but ultimately finished seventh, securing a place in the Europa League. Over the summer, the team lost their talisman Anthony Elanga, who joined Newcastle United for €62m. His replacements are Dan Ndoye from Bologna and Igor Jesus from Botafogo. Nottingham Forest played seven friendlies without a single win (five draws, two defeats), and only once did a match feature more than one goal.
Brentford
Brentford ended last season 10th, nine points behind Forest. The summer saw the exits of manager Thomas Frank, Bryan Mbeumo and Christian Nørgaard. New boss Keith Andrews faces the challenge of reshaping the side amid significant personnel losses. Reinforcements have come in the shape of Jordan Henderson and defender Michael Kayode, bringing valuable experience and balance. In pre-season, Brentford managed one win and two draws from three matches, with only the 2:2 against Borussia Mönchengladbach going over 2.5 goals.
Nottingham Forest vs Brentford Prediction
Last season, the sides exchanged away wins by identical 2:0 scorelines. Nottingham Forest are strong defensively, while Brentford are in transition, making a game with more than two goals unlikely.
