Anthony Elanga scores for Nottingham ForestPA Media

Anthony Elanga has scored in successive games for Nottingham Forest

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo says his team have "achieved nothing yet" despite inflicting a first home defeat of the season on Brentford to head into Christmas in the Premier League top four.

Goals from Ola Aina and Anthony Elanga, as well as some resolute defending, helped Forest to their third consecutive victory and ensured a celebratory feel to the one-year anniversary of Nuno taking charge at the club.

It also maintained Forest's push for European football next term, with their return of 31 points from 17 fixtures, the highest the club has managed in a top-flight campaign since 1987-88, when they finished third.

"It's not about the table. It's about improving, realising that there is still a long way to go and realising that we've achieved nothing yet," said Nuno.

"Let's stay humble and work very hard. This is how you build something.

"It is about this journey together and every day is important, improving the team."

Having withstood some early pressure from the hosts, Forest opened the scoring towards the end of the first period when Neco Williams got down the left and his low cross was placed into the bottom left corner by Nigeria full-back Aina.

The visitors added to their tally shortly after the break when Elanga capitalised on a mistake from Keane Lewis-Potter and drove into the penalty area before dispatching his effort past Bees goalkeeper Mark Flekken into the bottom left corner.

It proved a frustrating afternoon for Brentford, who came into the contest with the best home record in the English top flight, having won seven and drawn one of their previous eight fixtures.

However, while the Bees enjoyed plenty of possession, they ultimately lacked a cutting edge in front of goal.

Mikkel Damsgaard and Yoane Wissa were both unable to convert first-half opportunities to give Thomas Frank's side the lead and Kristoffer Ajer's close-range effort was superbly repelled by Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels as the hosts looked for a way back into the match.

They drop down a spot to 12th in the table, having lost three games in seven days.

Defensive trio lay platform for Forest win

Nuno 'very proud' but Forest must 'stay humble'

Forest were hovering above the relegation zone when Nuno was appointed as head coach 12 months ago.

Having achieved his initial target of safeguarding their top-flight status, he has transformed them into a side now occupying one of the Champions League places.

They have claimed some notable scalps, with victories at Anfield and Old Trafford coming on their way to the 31-point mark with 17 matches gone.

They are also two points better off than in 1994-95, the last time they qualified for Europe, in the old Uefa Cup.

And the platform for this success was laid by the performance of their three central defenders, with summer signings Morato and Nikola Milenkovic excelling alongside Murillo.

Their displays limited the influence and attacking threat normally carried by Bryan Mbeumo, Wissa and Kevin Schade as Brentford failed to score at home for the first time this term.

"It's annoying, but it happens," said Brentford manager Thomas Frank.

"I think we dominated the game. We lacked that quality offensively, but I think they defended brilliantly."

Brentford dominated but lacked 'cutting edge' - Frank

Player of the match

O. Aina
8.92
1 M. Flekken
4.95
19 B. Mbeumo
4.85
24 M. Damsgaard
4.50
16 B. Mee
4.37
7 K. Schade
4.23
6 C. Nørgaard
4.23
22 N. Collins
4.18
14 Fábio Carvalho
4.16
23 K. Lewis-Potter
4.16
11 Y. Wissa
4.15
27 V. Janelt
4.09
20 K. Ajer
3.97
30 M. Roerslev
3.85
26 Y. Konak
3.79
32 P. Maghoma
3.75
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