'It's a pleasure to be on this journey with our fans' - Milenkovicpublished at 12:22 GMT 29 January
12:22 GMT 29 January
Image source, Getty Images
Nottingham Forest centre-back Nikola Milenkovic says it has been "a pleasure" to play in Europe this season and hopes they can continue to make Forest fans "happy" with a home win against Ferencvaros on Thursday.
If Forest beat the Hungarian team then their second leg of the Europa League play-off will be at the City Ground.
"We approach this like every game in that you play to win," Milenkovic told BBC Radio Nottingham. "We want a positive result to make our fans happy and to finish as high as possible in the table as that's really important for the next phase.
"Playing [the second leg] at home would be a big advantage. The objective was top eight, but we are still happy to progress into the next round.
"It's a pleasure to be in Europe and on this journey with our fans."
Dyche on Savona's fitness, Luiz's exit & transfer planspublished at 16:25 GMT 28 January
16:25 GMT 28 January
Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Premier League game against Ferencvaros at the City Ground (20:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Nicolo Savona is "unlikely" to be involved in Thursday's game: "Sav has got a knee situation we are having looked at. We don't think it's too serious at this time but we have got to check it out. He's unlikely to be figuring. He will be seeing a specialist today - more as a secondary check to make sure it is what we think it is. It could be days, it could be weeks."
Last season's top scorer Chris Wood is making "steady progress" as he continues to recover from a knee problem suffered in October: "The repair on the knee has gone well and it is just steady progress now. It is week by week and making sure it is going in the right direction, which it certainly is so far."
Could Forest look to recruit after Savona's injury?: "The club are a trading club. They always make it clear to me we are looking at different positions. It's fair to say full-back is one of them given our left-back situation. We're looking at various options, it's not just that position. We are just being proactive to try and strengthen where we can."
Dyche said Douglas Luiz's move to Aston Villa "is more or less getting done" and represents a "win" .
On managing Europe alongside the league: "It's for the right reasons. We are in Europe, juggling is tough but that is part of it. It has its challenges but so far, apart from the one at Braga, we have done really well with rotated teams. Overall I'm not disappointed, we were just a long way off against Braga. The league form has now started to pick up."
How has Lorenzo Lucca adapted since his loan move from Napoli?: "His English is very good which helps. He's a big fella but he can move. Since he's been in the building he looks fit and well and looks like he wants to make a mark here."
Gossip: Dunk bid turned down by Brighton published at 07:25 GMT 28 January
07:25 GMT 28 January
Nottingham Forest approached Brighton about a potential deal for 34-year-old ex-England defender Lewis Dunk but Albion turned down the offer. (Sky Sports), external
'A well-deserved comeback moment'published at 12:49 GMT 27 January
12:49 GMT 27 January
Pat Riddell Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
It can be frustrating watching a player gain fitness and confidence and without match time it can hard to achieve either. But for the spectator it can be hard going, without knowing or realising the benefit.
Taiwo Awoniyi has not had an easy time of late. Lacking both fitness and confidence, his brief appearances in recent games have been frustrating for supporters and himself alike.
The Nigerian striker played a huge part in Nottingham Forest's first season back in the Premier League — his goal against Arsenal in May 2023 secured our top-flight status and ended the Gunners' title dreams. But a groin problem curtailed the following season and then a broken nose in February 2025 was nothing compared to the abdominal injury sustained in the home game against Leicester City in May. The shocking injury saw the 28-year-old placed into an induced coma.
His first Premier League goal in just over a year marks a remarkable comeback for Awoniyi – and cemented Forest's away win at Brentford on Sunday. There can be few fans who were not moved by seeing him back to his best, however fleeting that moment was.
Following the signing of Lorenzo Lucca last week, both strikers — Igor Jesus and Awoniyi — found the net against Brentford. Was the competition for places an impetus or just coincidence? It doesn't really matter as far as Forest are concerned — scoring goals and taking our chances has been our biggest issue this season.
With rumours of another signing or two before the end of the month, perhaps there will be serious competition for a place in the first XI. And there remains the question of whether Awoniyi will remain at the club beyond the January transfer window, or certainly the summer.
But whatever happens, that goal on Sunday will forever be remembered as his well-deserved comeback moment.
Gossip: Forest need to up £35m Mateta bidpublished at 07:16 GMT 27 January
07:16 GMT 27 January
Nottingham Forest have made a £35m bid for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, but the Eagles want a £40m package and will only let the 28-year-old Frenchman leave if that price is met and they are able to bring in a replacement. (Athletic - subscription required), external
Brentford 0-2 Nottingham Forest - the fans' verdictpublished at 09:33 GMT 26 January
09:33 GMT 26 January
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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Brentford and Nottingham Forest.
Here are some of your comments:
Brentford fans
Neil: We dominated but it was clear that the system wasn't going to unlock the Forest defence. Changes should have been made before Forest's second - it's been a bit of a thing with the manager not changing things when it is obviously not working. Frustrating but hey ho, onwards and upwards towards Villa next.
Tim: Could somebody tell Keith Andrews that he is allowed to change his tactics during a match, as his current approach is to play Plan A; and if that fails to do the same thing. Today we were Dyched once again, but despite Nelson and Donovan on the bench he made the same subs he always makes. Horribly flat performance.
Les: No plan B. Chelsea and Forest had three shots on target each and scored four goals. Set pieces - it's like we do not have a set piece coach. We can't seem to win balls in the air on the attacking front.
Rob: Poor performance by Bees. Insipid and out of ideas in the final third as they moved the ball too slowly and decision making/technical quality wasn't there. Forest were good for 15 minutes and probably deserved the lead at half-time, but it was two poor teams on display in the second. For some reason, Dyche has the hoodoo over us!
Forest fans
Ian: All that noise and negativity after the Braga game, trust in Dyche! It was a masterclass from him and it was only possible by his choices in midweek. Premier League survival is clearly the most important priority, the Europa League doesn't even begin to come close second. Our Europa game on Thursday is also not as important as beating Crystal Palace next Sunday. Do that and we're right back in the mix. COYR. Keep calm and carry on!
Mark: A good solid away performance. A draw would have been good, but the deserved win was hard earned.
Joe: Was that the Forest of last year again? Score an early counterattack, defend, clean sheet. Job done!
Trevor: Excellent victory for Forest - defended really well and took the chances with two brilliant finishes, top six here we come.
Analysis: Strikers step up to relieve pressurepublished at 18:49 GMT 25 January
18:49 GMT 25 January
Bobbie Jackson BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Nottingham Forest spent around £180m in the summer but cracking the code in front of goal has been a major problem for them this season.
No team has failed to score in more different Premier League games than Forest in 2025-26 (11) and only rock-bottom Wolves (15) have scored fewer than their tally of 23.
But crucially they registered twice on Sunday to see off Brentford at Gtech Community Stadium and boost their hopes of survival.
Summer signing Igor Jesus scored for just the second time in the league - controlling on his chest before emphatically volleying in the opener - before fellow striker Taiwo Awoniyi scored for the first time in over a year.
The goals provide relief for both manager Sean Dyche and supporters after a difficult run, but crucially victory also maintains a five-point gap to the relegation zone.
Forest, who had just one win from their previous eight games across all competitions, became just the second team after Manchester City to win at Brentford in the league this season.
Brentford 0-2 Nottingham Forest: What Dyche saidpublished at 16:30 GMT 25 January
16:30 GMT 25 January
Media caption,
Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche, spoke to BBC Match of the Day after his side's victory at Brentford: "Resilience was the most pleasing aspect. Brentford have been brilliant at home.
"It was a game of two halves. We put pressure on in the first half and had to contain them in the second.
"They had a fast start and it's not an easy task but you have to find a balance between defending resolutely and hitting on the attack."
On keeping a five-point gap over 18th-placed West Ham: "We can't do anything about other people, it's just about ourselves."
On goals for Igor Jesus and Taiwo Awoniyi: "We got a couple of very different goals. Igor took it superbly and Taiwo came on and slotted it calmly.
"The hardest job in the game is scoring as a centre-forward. I don't put pressure on them to score I just want them in the right place."
On when new striker Lorenzo Lucca will be available: "Hopefully this week. It was just paperwork."
Dyche has won 30.3% of his Premier League matches in which his side have had less than 50% possession (87/287), compared to just 19.7% when his team have had 50% possession or more (12/61).
Brentford v Nottingham Forest: Team newspublished at 13:01 GMT 25 January
13:01 GMT 25 January
Brentford saw a six-game unbeaten run in the Premier League ended via a 2-0 loss at Chelsea last weekend, but boss Keith Andrews sticks with the same eleven.
The Bees boast the fourth best home record in the league and climb as high as fourth in the standings if they pick up a win today.
Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Van den Berg, Pinnock, Henderson, Nelson, Ouattara, Lewis-Potter, Donovan.
Sean Dyche also goes with an unchanged lineup from Nottingham Forest's last Premier League outing when they held league leaders Arsenal to a goalless draw.
Forest did play on Thursday in the Europa League, losing 1-0 at Braga, and have won just one of their last eight across all competitions.
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Crystal Palace v Chelsea" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v Manchester United", for instance.