Nottingham Forest Secure 2-0 Win Over Brentford To Widen Safety Gap

Nottingham Forest earned a vital 2-0 victory at Brentford in the Premier League, opening a five-point cushion above the relegation places. The visitors absorbed long spells of pressure at the Gtech Community

Stadium, struck twice on the break, and ended Brentford’s strong home sequence to ease tension around Sean Dyche and the survival battle.

The result also strengthened Sean Dyche’s personal record against Brentford, with the Forest boss now collecting five wins from seven league meetings, alongside one draw and one defeat. That 71% success rate is Dyche’s best against any opponent faced more than twice in the top flight, underlining how regularly Forest frustrated Brentford’s usual rhythm.

The importance of the win grew after West Ham beat Sunderland 3-1 on Saturday, trimming the deficit to 17th-placed Forest to only two points. That outcome put extra focus on Forest’s response under pressure, yet Dyche’s side showed composure, collected three points, and moved further clear of the drop zone with this disciplined away display.

Brentford began on the front foot and almost struck within two minutes. Kevin Schade set up Igor Jesus for an early opening, but the forward missed the target from inside the area. That early threat signalled Brentford’s intent, with Forest pinned back frequently as the hosts controlled possession and territory during much of the first half.

Forest took the lead against the flow of play through Igor Jesus. Ola Aina delivered a looping cross towards the near post, where Igor Jesus cushioned the ball expertly. The forward then drove a powerful effort across goal from a tight angle, beating Caoimhin Kelleher and silencing the home support.

Brentford created several chances to level but lacked a clinical finish. The clearest opportunity went to Dango Ouattara, who could not beat Matz Sels after a clever pass from Mathias Jensen. Sepp van den Berg then headed just wide before half-time, while Thiago sent a shot over the bar during continued second-half pressure.

Forest’s defence held firm as Brentford pushed higher up the pitch in search of an equaliser. The hosts committed bodies forward, which left spaces behind their backline. Forest used those gaps with increasing confidence and looked more dangerous on counters as the match moved into the decisive closing stages.

The visitors settled the contest late on through substitute Taiwo Awoniyi. Forest broke quickly from deep, and Awoniyi timed the run perfectly before finishing calmly past Caoimhin Kelleher. That composed strike on the counter-attack confirmed an "unlikely" away success and punished Brentford’s earlier missed opportunities in both halves.

A big three points at Brentford! pic.twitter.com/lEpLIHOUxQNottingham Forest (@NFFC) January 25, 2026

Nottingham Forest result ends Brentford home streak

This defeat came during what had generally been a positive season for Brentford, who sit in the upper part of the Premier League table. However, Keith Andrews’ team have now lost back-to-back league fixtures and suffered a first Premier League home loss in eight matches at the Gtech Community Stadium, after a previous sequence of five wins and two draws.

Scoring problems at home also continued for Brentford. Andrews’ side have failed to find the net in five of their last six home league defeats, matching the number of goalless displays they recorded across the previous 18 top-flight losses on their own ground. That pattern again appeared, despite long spells of territory and regular shooting opportunities.

Forest’s win therefore carried both statistical and psychological weight. It broke Brentford’s strong home run, highlighted Sean Dyche’s effective approach against this opponent, and gave Forest breathing space in the relegation contest. For Brentford, the match underlined how missed chances and a rare lapse at home can quickly shift momentum in a demanding Premier League campaign.

Key Detail	Brentford	Nottingham Forest
Final score	0	2
Recent home league run before match	W5 D2 L0	-
Current home league defeats without scoring (last six)	5	-
Sean Dyche league record vs Brentford	-	W5 D1 L1
Win rate for Dyche vs Brentford	-	71%
Relegation gap after match	-	Five points clear of relegation zone

Forest’s disciplined display at Brentford delivered three important points, stretched the buffer above the relegation places, and maintained Sean Dyche’s strong personal record against the Bees. Brentford, despite enjoying a solid overall campaign, left frustrated by missed chances and a broken home run that had previously provided consistent comfort in the Premier League.