Nottingham Forest

Brentford's excellent home form has been pivotal in their charge towards a European place this season and they will fancy their chances on Sunday against a Nottingham Forest side with just one win in their last six league games.

The seventh-placed Bees have lost just once at the Gtech Community Stadium all season, with only the current top three of Arsenal (29), Manchester City (26) and Aston Villa (25) earning more home points than the 24 amassed by Keith Andrews' side.

Bees sting late on

With Forest coming off the back of a tiring and troublesome midweek defeat in the Europa League, Brentford will be poised to utilise one of their most effective weapons this campaign – the late goal.

The west Londoners have scored 13 goals from the 75th minute onwards in league fixtures this season – more than any other top-flight club. Conversely, nobody has conceded more than Forest's 12 during the same period of games.

Having struck out on his own as the top Brazilian scorer in any Premier League season with 16, frontman Igor Thiago now has another target in his sights. The last South American player to break the 20-goal barrier in a campaign was Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, who netted 21 in 2018-19.

Dyche despairs at defeat

Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche and his players faced the wrath of their travelling support as a much-changed team slumped to a 1-0 Europa League defeat against Sporting Braga on Thursday.

Dyche put the defeat down to "one minute of madness", with Morgan Gibbs-White's penalty miss compounded by an own goal from Ryan Yates a mere 55 seconds later.

Despite his spot-kick woe on the continent, Gibbs-White's league tally of five makes him the Reds' top scorer, and, encouragingly, he has bagged a goal in each of their last two league away games.

Forest missing Wood

In the absence of last season's top scorer Chris Wood, Forest's failure to find the net is eye-catchingly pronounced – undoubtedly one of the main reasons they find themselves in 17th place, just five points clear of the drop zone.

Only rock-bottom Wolves (15) have scored fewer goals in the league than Forest's 21, and nobody has failed to find the net in more games than the 11 blanks registered by Dyche's men.

One thing the visitors can cling to is Dyche's impressive record against the Bees. The former Burnley and Everton boss has won four of his six Premier League meetings with Brentford, his highest win rate (67%) against any side he's faced more than twice.

Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Brentford at Gtech Community Stadium (kick-off 14:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Dyche confirmed Murillo missed Thusday's Europa League defeat with "a tight hamstring" but did not say whether he will be available for Sunday.

• Igor Jesus also received "a bang on the hip" that was too "inflamed" to play with, but Dyche is hopeful he will be in contention if it settles down.

• He said they have "had to mix and match the whole squad" to deal with the demanding fixture schedule and "there will be changes again" against Brentford.

• Dyche is "hopeful" a striker will be signed before Sunday as "there's work in progress" behind the scenes. The BBC reports they are closing in on the signing of Napoli's Lorenzo Lucca.

• More from Dyche on needing reinforcements: "I think it's quite apparent. The club are working hard. It's not like they don't know the situation and they are working hard to correct the situation. But they are willing to trade and they have backed the club financially."

• On opponents Brentford: "Their home form has been good in general. It's certainly a tough game, but every game in the Premier League is. I don't throw that around lightly."

• He said they "have to play well again" like they did against Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal.

• On Chelsea being interested in Douglas Luiz: "It doesn't surprise me there is interest from other clubs in good players. That's the nature of the business. It's a doubled-edged sword. You sort of want people interested in your players as that means they are doing a good job and are good players, but you don't because you don't want them coming knocking on the door."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to live commentary of Brentford vs Nottingham Forest on Radio 5 Sports Extra 2 from 14:00 GMT

Is there a more wholesome sight than one of your players flying into a tackle?

For all the creativity, smart finishing and wonder goals the Premier League can offer, few such joys would be possible were it not for those feisty fellows charging around to win the ball back for the cause.

This season, those in the graphic above top the charts for putting their foot in.

Tottenham's Joao Palhinha was seemingly born in a pair of shinpads and primed to launch in on someone, while Everton's James Garner continues to impress this season in various areas of his game - underlining why talk of an England call-up continues.

Keep an eye out for these men this weekend. Their opponents will almost certainly end up seeing more of them than they'd bargained for.

David Jackson
BBC Radio Nottingham reporter

Image source, Getty Images

I'm sitting in Porto airport, surrounded by Forest fans shaking their heads in disbelief at last night's performance.

It wasn't the defeat that hurt them, nor even the fact that they became only the second team in Europa League history to miss a penalty, score an own goal and have a man sent off in the same match.

It's the fact that after travelling complicated journeys with connecting flights and then being confronted with torrential rain for their entire stay in Braga, supporters weren't treated to a level of performance that they feel they deserved.

Any fan would agree with Sean Dyche that survival in the Premier League is the top priority. The club have waited a long time for top-flight football and they can't lose it now.

But these fans have also waited a long time to get to travel around Europe and see their team push for a major trophy.

After last night's display, when hopes of a top-eight finish drifted away, fans we've spoken to are questioning whether Forest's enthusiasm for the Europa League matches their own.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Thursday's Europa League between Sporting Braga and Nottingham Forest.

Here are some of your comments:

Neil: I'm typing this from my hotel in Braga - this is simply not good enough. We keep hearing excuses from the manager, but ultimately the blame is collective because we keep falling short of expectations in big games. We have spent a lot of money watching this rubbish and many of us are tired of it. Too disruptive to change things now but massive overhaul of staff needed in the summer, including our negative manager.

Simon: Given the team selection and our squad weakness it would seem that we place no importance on progressing. Serious questions should be asked of those who sanctioned our summer signings.

Dave: That performance was embarrassing. It was lacklustre and tactically inept. I am quickly losing faith in Dyche. Also, the club should never have loaned out Arnaud Kalimuendo until they had back up. We are going backwards.

Ben: Be in no doubt that losing to a team who fail to register a shot on target is as bad as it sounds. I don't understand why players fighting for a place in the starting 11 show so little effort when they finally get their chance. The worst performance to date in a frankly underwhelming season. But the biggest alarm bells are off the pitch, because this match is just the latest indication of how woefully poor Forest's summer recruitment was.

Martin: A very disappointing night which left me wondering if Forest are capable of surviving in the Premier League. I have very little confidence in a manager who doesn't seem able to a get a credible performance from the team. My sympathy goes out to the fans who spent their hard-earned cash to follow the team and were let down.

Jim: Disgusting performance! A toothless performance without desire, ideas or quality. The squad is relying on very average players when rotating.

Jamie: One of the worst performances I've seen from Forest, and I've followed them for a long time now. The moment towards the end where they passed the ball around the back like a Simpsons meme was just comically bad.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Wolves have rejected a bid from Leeds United for striker Jorgen Strand Larsen.

The offer fell well below Wolves' £40m asking price and came a number of days ago.

Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Crystal Palace have shown an interest in the player this month.

Wolves are also willing to let defender Emmanuel Agbadou leave Molineux and are in talks with Besiktas.

The Turkish side's latest offer is £13m, with Wolves looking for £17m for the Ivory Coast international who joined from Reims for £16.6m last January.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Nottingham Forest defender James Perch delivered a blunt assessment of his old club's performance after their 1-0 defeat to Braga, a result that leaves Forest 16th in the Europa League table and with a top-eight finish now almost certainly beyond reach.

Speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham after the game, Perch questioned the players' mentality and belief on a night when Morgan Gibbs-White missed a penalty, and Ryan Yates' own goal proved decisive.

"They knew coming into this game that if they put in a performance and they would get this result tonight, they would set them up nicely next week and get us into that top eight," Perch said.

"They've only got themselves to blame. They looked like they didn't want to be there, which is unacceptable. They look like they didn't believe, which again is unacceptable, knowing what's at stake. No one really looked like they wanted to go and win the game. No one took the game by the neck.

"So disappointing, especially when you're in Portugal, fans have travelled and spent a lot of money, we are in a nice stadium, and to turn up with that is shocking really, so disappointing."

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Former Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott offered a damning assessment after Nottingham Forest's defeat to Braga, describing the performance as one that fell well short of the occasion.

Speaking on TNT Sports, the former defender labelled the display collectively unacceptable and warned that the fallout could be felt beyond this match, particularly with a crucial fixture looming next week and with Elliot Anderson having received a late red card.

"The perfect way to sum it up is a mess," he told TNT Sports. "Collectively, it wasn't good enough.

"To top it off and lose someone of the stature of Anderson when you have a massive game next week is devastating.

"You often look at games and wonder if there are any positives. I don't think there are any tonight. A terrible night, terrible performance on what should have been a marvellous evening."

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche, speaking to TNT Sports: "Very frustrating. One minute of madness. A game we never looked in trouble but never dominated as much as we liked.

"We don't have a recognised centre-forward and that can make it tricky. The reaction was nowhere good enough for a minute or so. We lost the game to a really poor goal.

"There is effort here, that killer edge, we want more of that. Of course, we are in that weird situation where we have to protect players who are playing a lot of football.

"We want to do well in this competition, we still do, of course.

"It is a fine line - it is a juggling act. You want to give everyone a chance to showcase themselves.

"They are working ever so hard in training. You might come away with a draw, but you shouldn't really lose that game.

"One minute of madness cost us the game. They hardly had a real chance, then we had a goalmouth scramble and even that can't go in."

Midfielder Ryan Yates, speaking to TNT Sports: "Very disappointing. I feel we controlled most parts of the game.

"I thought we stifled them in the first half. We had opportunities to make a breakthrough, we don't. Then, I unfortunately make a mistake at the other end. Then we could never get a foothold in the game after that.

"When you get handed an opportunity and you don't take it, you get punished. I have to hold my hands up. I should have done better.

"We are frustrated as I think we have done enough to win the game. Frustrating when results don't go your way. We have missed an opportunity and that's why we're frustrated - not that we were terrible on the night.

"Fine margins. We have to keep working and put that right. We are still in a solid position in the competition. No negativity in the dressing room, that's for sure."

Did you know?

• Nottingham Forest have won just two of their last 11 away matches in major European football, with this defeat ending their prior three match unbeaten run on the road in the Europa League.

• Forest became the first English club in Europa League history to miss a penalty and score an own goal in a single match.

• In this match, Braga became just the second side in Uefa Europa League history (since 2009-10) to win a match despite failing to record a shot on target, after Lazio beat Nice in November 2017.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

What did you make of Forest's display?

Come back on Friday for a selection of your replies

Sam Drury
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Sean Dyche made seven changes to the Nottingham Forest XI from Saturday's draw against Arsenal, and much like the last time he made multiple changes - in their FA Cup exit at Wrexham - those brought in did little to boost their chance of more regular minutes.

While the conditions did not help, the first 45 minutes were among the most forgettable of the season with Braga showing next to no ambition to attack and Forest unable to cause them any problems going the other way.

The game livened up somewhat after the break but Morgan Gibbs-White failed to convert his penalty - his second failure from the spot in the Europa League this season - and Braga, with a bit of good fortune, immediately provided the sucker punch.

Forest's defending left a lot to be desired, and once Ryan Yates' own goal gave Braga the lead, the hosts were more than happy to defend it.

For all Forest pushed for a leveller, it was Braga who came closest to finding the game's second goal when substitute Pau Victor hit the inside of the post.

Elliot Anderson, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Neco Williams were sent on to try to rectify the situation but, although there was added urgency in their play, the goal would not come.

Yates had a goalbound header kept out by a last-ditch block, while on another day Ndoye might have earned Forest a second penalty after a careless challenge from former Wolves midfielder Joao Moutinho.

But, ultimately, the English side did not do enough and face Ferencvaros at the City Ground next week needing to win and hope for the most unlikely sequence of results if they are to avoid the play-offs.

Sean Dyche has rung the changes for Nottingham Forest tonight in Portugal.

He makes seven changes to the the XI that started Saturday's 0-0 draw against Arsenal.

Only Matz Sels, Ola Aina, Nikola Milenkovic and Morgan Gibbs-White keep their places.

Braga make six changes from their last league game.

Braga XI: Hornicek, Lagerbielke, Niakate, Arrey-Mbi, Gomez, Grillitsch, Gorby, Martinez, Rodrigues, Ricardo Horta, Navarro.

Subs: Tiago Sa, Bellarouch, Lelo, Carvalho, Joao Moutinho, Paulo Oliveira, Gabriel Moscardo, Victor, Dorgeles, da Rocha, Aragao, Vidigal.

Nottingham Forest XI: Sels, Savona, Milenkovic, Morato, Aina, Bakwa, Yates, Douglas Luiz, McAtee, Ndoye, Gibbs-White.

Subs: Gunn, Willows, Williams, Sangare, Hudson-Odoi, Anderson, Dominguez, Abbott, Whitehall, Thompson, Sinclair, Hammond.

There are 18 games in the Europa League on Thursday, including two games involving Premier League clubs, and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Fenerbahce v Aston Villa (17:45)

• Braga v Nottingham Forest (20:00)

Kick-off times GMT

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

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Chelsea are exploring a move to for midfielder Douglas Luiz, currently on loan at Nottingham Forest.

The 27-year-old joined Forest from Juventus over the summer but has struggled for consistent game time under Sean Dyche.

The Brazilian would add experience to Chelsea's squad and provide cover in midfield for the injured Romeo Lavia.

The Blues have a positive relationship with Forest, who have given the former Aston Villa midfielder limited opportunities this season, while Juventus are incentivised to want improved game time for their loanee.

Chelsea are in advanced talks over signing Sheffield Wednesday full-back Yisa Alao, 17, who is being lined up for a role in the academy teams rather than a first-team option.

Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet remains a key target for the January window as the club look to strengthen their defensive options.

David Jackson
BBC Radio Nottingham reporter

Image source, Getty Images

"This was always going to happen."

That was the view of one fan I spoke to this morning , reacting to the news that Igor Jesus had picked up an injury and hasn't travelled with the Forest squad to Braga.

He was referring to the club's decision to allow Arnaud Kalimuendo to leave earlier this month, leaving the Reds with one fit and available striker for the final two league phase matches in the Europa League, Igor Jesus. Who's now injured.

On Saturday against Arsenal, winger Dan Ndoye was brought off the bench to play up front late on and he's the most likely to play there from the start against Braga.

And while he'll work hard, Forest will miss the hold-up play, strength and aerial ability of Jesus. Whether it was "always going to happen" or not, it has happened and now Sean Dyche finds himself in a tricky position to find goals from a team that has struggled for them, even with strikers on the pitch.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Radio Nottingham/BBC Sounds

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Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

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Former Nottingham Forest director of football Kyriakos Dourekas has reflected on his best signings during his six-year spell at the City Ground from 2018 to 2024.

Dourekas joined Forest from Olympiacos, also owned by Evangelos Marinakis, and during his tenure the club won promotion to the Premier League in 2022 – their first top‑flight season in 23 years.

Now at Neom, a new club created as part of Saudi Arabia's giga‑city project in the desert, Dourekas looked back on the signings he considered most important during his time at Forest.

"All the players helped, but ones that stand out… Ryan Yates," Dourekas told BBC Sport. "He wasn't a signing, but could have been released or sent on loan. His passion was immense for us as a local academy boy.

"Another was James Garner from Manchester United on an initial six-month loan. Then Stoke City offered a great proposal, but we eventually got him over the line again and his contribution was immense.

"We wanted to buy him after promotion, but United wanted to keep him initially. We completed our roster and then, in the end, they were ready to sell him. It happens in football – the timing sometimes is not right.

"There was Morgan (Gibbs‑White), Woody (Chris Wood), Djed Spence… all of those. Anthony Elanga, sold for £55m to Newcastle – an amazing one. And (Elliot) Anderson, who came after I left, another amazing one. He is one of the best players in England at his age."

Despite Forest qualifying for Europe last season for the first time in 30 years, they sit 17th in the Premier League. However, Dourekas remains positive about the club's direction.

"I believe the recruitment has been successful and will be in the future, as they have a great set‑up there," he said.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Radio Nottingham/BBC Sounds

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And explore all Forest content on BBC Sounds here

Karan Vinod
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Europa League game against Braga at Estadio Municipal de Braga (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On team news: "Igor Jesus has got a bit of a knock which is unfortunate so we're going to have to make a call on that one but he's not with us at the moment. We'll see how it settles down overnight. Murillo is here with us."

• Dyche says because they were able to beat Porto earlier in the season, that doesn't make them favourites to beat Braga. He stated that "it's a challenging place to come to" and they are a "well coached" team, adding it's down to Forest's "mentality to come here take on the game and play with freedom".

• On the conditions: "It's heavy [pitch] at the moment and like you say, a lot of rain forecast Thursday, so we'll have to wait and see, but it's heavy. I mean, it's playable at the moment, but it is quite saturated, but it's a good surface, so we hope it will take the rain however it comes, and you know, hopefully there's no problem with the game."

• Dyche said that they would have "made some ground up" if they can clinch a top-eight spot and the "players have done very well" but reiterated that they have "got to take on every challenge that comes" and not take "any of these games for granted".

• On Braga: "We've obviously done some analysis on on Braga, a team full of quality - a lot of technically gifted players. It's a very possession-based team. You know, it's something they keep the ball well and try to transfer it through the shape of the team. But not in a way that they're naïve."

Follow all of Thursday's news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

From the Premier League's elite to the soggy pitches of Sunday league, injuries are part and parcel of football - but which top-flight teams have been worst affected so far this season?

With help from injury expert Ben Dinnery, of premierinjuries.com,, external BBC Sport has examined which sides have been hit the hardest, the impact injuries can have on under-fire managers - and whether things are always as bad as they seem.

• Read more detail on how clubs have been affected by injuries here

Nottingham Forest will allow Brazilian left-back Cuiabano, 22, to leave on loan this month, with Liverpool's 29-year-old Greece full-back Kostas Tsimikas, currently on loan at Roma, among their list of targets. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Forest have had an offer for Napoli defender Mathias Olivera rejected, but remain in talks for the 28-year-old Uruguay international. (Tuttomercatoweb - in Italian), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Former Nottingham Forest director of football Kyriakos Dourekas says he "misses" working with owner Evangelos Marinakis despite making what he calls an "exciting" move to Saudi club Neom.

Dourekas joined Forest in 2018 from Olympiacos – also owned by Marinakis – and spent five years at the City Ground. He helped oversee Forest's return to the Premier League in 2022 after a 23-year absence from the top flight.

Now at Neom, Dourekas reflected on his time working under Marinakis.

"When Mr Marinakis wants something, it will happen, believe me," he told BBC Sport. "His ambition is so big. Whenever he has something in his mind, and it's his target, it will be done.

"A great man, entrepreneur and leader. When I went there, I believed we could bring Nottingham Forest to the Premier League because I knew I had him as a leader."

Dourekas said he felt the club's past glories – including their European Cup wins in 1979 and 1980 – had held back progress.

"We were a little too much in the past. Players coming in didn't feel important, so we had a motto with Marinakis: 'We respect the past, but we create the future.' We wanted to create a Premier League future."

He described a "collective" approach to recruitment involving Marinakis, his son Miltiadis, the data department and then director Ross Wilson.

However, the opportunity to help build a team at Neom – a club being created for the ambitious Saudi Arabian mega‑project in the desert – was one he felt he had to take in July 2024.

"I went to Marinakis and said I had an exciting new proposal. It was my sixth year and he had a strong staff in place.

"We are building Neom as a club from the ground up. We only have one pitch – no buildings or infrastructure at all. Everything is built to help not just now, but to last.

"We are building an academy, have the youngest team in the league and hope other clubs will follow our belief in developing Saudi players."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Radio Nottingham/BBC Sounds

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David Jackson
BBC Radio Nottingham reporter in Braga

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The Europa League is now Nottingham Forest's last chance for some real joy this season.

Defeats by Championship opposition in both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, added to the Premier League relegation fight, means this competition can make a big difference to how successful the season will be judged.

Whatever happens, it's a season that won't be forgotten. Yes, partly for all the managerial changes - but also for these European trips which Forest fans have embraced.

Those we've spoken to on the way to Portugal are determined to get every moment of enjoyment out of it, regardless of whatever else happens this season.

The weather is due to be horrendous in Braga, with thunderstorms forecast for Thursday afternoon in the lead-up to the game.

But when you're visiting the iconic Braga Municipal Stadium, with the rock walls of the former quarry making up one of the ends, the novelty of following your team abroad is very much still there for the fans.

It's been a long wait for European football and there's never a guarantee of when it will return.

The job for Sean Dyche and the players now is to make it last as long as possible. The Reds are unbeaten in Europe since Dyche took over.

Two wins now would pretty much guarantee a last-16 spot, without the need for a pesky play-off.

That would also take them a step closer to bringing joy to a patient fanbase who you can be sure will be there in numbers to cheer them on - wherever they end up.

Listen to In The Game on BBC Radio Nottingham on Wednesday at 18:00 GMT, plus Matchnight from 18:00 on Thursday, including commentary from 20:00

Subscribe to the Shut Up And Show More Football podcast on BBC Sounds.

And explore all Forest content on BBC Sounds here