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Brentford 2-0 Nottingham Forest: Thiago Helps End Bees' Winless Run
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- Brentford 2-0 Nottingham Forest: Thiago Helps End Bees' Winless Run
(IMAGO / Sports Press Photo)
Brentford ended their four-match winless run with a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday, although the scoreline did not tell the whole story of an afternoon when Keith Andrews' side spent long periods defending their lead.
Nikola Milenković turned Dango Ouattara's cross into his own net after half an hour, and Igor Thiago struck in the 76th minute as the Bees marked their 100th Premier League match at the Gtech Community Stadium with three points.
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Keith Andrews made one change from the draw at Hull City, restoring Vitaly Janelt to midfield after suspension in place of Aaron Hickey. Brentford's first opening came from a Janelt corner in the fourth minute, Mamadou Sangaré hitting a volley narrowly over after Neco Williams headed the delivery clear.
Forest soon found promising positions themselves. Liam Delap fired well over on the turn, and Kristoffer Ajer had to get across to block another attempt from the striker. James McAtee was closer, dragging a shot just wide after moving infield, while at the other end Mathias Jensen released Thiago for an early effort that missed the target.
Dango Ouattara gave Brentford the lead in the 30th minute with a run that left Forest's defenders scrambling. He beat Murillo on the right before driving a low ball across goal, where Milenković turned it beyond Matz Sels.
Six minutes later, the Serbian fouled Kevin Schade on the edge of the area, allowing Jensen to bend a free-kick over the wall and against the crossbar.
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Oliver Glasner made two changes at half-time, bringing on Ryan Yates and Daniel Muñoz, with Forest immediately putting Brentford under pressure. Caoimhín Kelleher dived at Delap's feet to smother a loose ball after Morgan Gibbs-White had met a cross, before Yates headed over from another Gibbs-White delivery.
Brentford struggled to get much going at the other end. Sepp van den Berg blocked an effort from substitute Arnaud Kalimuendo, and Thiago had to clear a Gibbs-White header from a corner in his own penalty area.
Andrews had introduced Hickey and Mikkel Damsgaard just after the hour, with Jaidon Anthony following from the bench. Those changes helped produce the second goal.
Hickey found Anthony with an excellent pass out to the right, and the winger carried the ball forward before picking out Thiago in the area. His finish struck Milenković, then the underside of the crossbar, before beating Sels. It was only Thiago's second league goal of the campaign.
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Andrews had spoken before Saturday's match about the Brazilian becoming a closely marked player following his 22-goal Premier League campaign last season. Thiago had found little space during Forest's second-half pressure, but took his opportunity when Brentford finally had room to break forward.
The visitors kept searching for a way back into the game, but Brentford protected their advantage through the closing stages.
Forest finished with 15 shots to Brentford 's six, enjoying more possession and several promising openings but failing to find the back of the net. Andrews' side meanwhile secured their third home league win of the season and their first win in any competition since beating Chelsea in September.
