Nottingham Forest

Crystal Palace will be on a high after booking their place in the FA Cup final, so this is another very tricky game for Nottingham Forest, who slipped up at home against Brentford on Thursday.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side will have to be stubborn and resolute to get anything at Selhurst Park. They have shown that kind of character plenty of times already this season - but they really need it now.

Looking at the race for the top five, you feel like every team involved needs to win every game, but of course that is not going to happen, and I can see my boyhood team Forest dropping more points here.

I just hope it does not prove crucial for them.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Manchester City plan to advance their interest in Morgan Gibbs-White by agreeing a deal with Nottingham Forest for the 25-year-old midfielder. (Fabrizio Romano), external

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Nottingham Forest's 2-0 defeat at home by Brentford left them outside the Champions League qualification spots, but would reaching an alternative European competition count as a success?

Forest fan Saveena Johal tells The Football News Show why they can still make the top five, and why a Europa League spot would not be a bad consolation.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray spoke on the latest Shut Up And Show More Football podcast about the reasons behind Nottingham Forest's recent poor form: "It's getting very nervy - you can tell that around the ground and in some of the performances. You're seeing players that have been absolutely outstanding all season now not reaching those levels. I think that's down to nerves.

"You look at some of the decision-making that has been going on on the pitch. You put it down to individual errors, but those individual errors haven't been happening over the course of the season so far. You start to wonder why they are happening now.

"Getting across the line, whatever the target you're aiming for, is always the most difficult time of a season. Nottingham Forest aren't used to challenging like this, certainly not in the Premier League. They haven't had too many promotion battles in all of those years either in the lower leagues.

"They are used to scrapping against teams who do slip up. Now they are finding themselves in battles with teams who don't.

"At the moment, I feel like we are being a bit left behind in that department."

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Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has given more detail on Callum Hudson-Odoi's latest injury, after the 24-year-old was substituted at half-time in Thursday's defeat by Brentford.

"He felt something. We have to assess how he is. We think it is his hamstring," Nuno said.

"This is our major concern first of all - try to solve the mistakes and correct them so we can compete better. At the same time, see if our players can hold on and keep going.

"From the FA Cup semi-final, there is a fitness issue in our players. Now we have to try to recover them and choose wisely so we can have as many as possible to compete in these next four games."

Defeat at the City Ground on Thursday was the club's fourth in five matches, but the Portuguese coach is determined to finish the season strongly in the push for Champions League football.

He added: "I'm not concerned about what's coming. I'm concerned about us - how can we compete against Crystal Palace? How can we be ourselves again? How can we be dominant even when we don't have the ball?

"But we don't give chances away because we have talent and speed. This has to be, and it is, my major concern."

Nottingham Forest have won nine away Premier League matches this season. They have only won 10 top-flight away matches in a season on three occasions - in 1977-78 (finished first), 1978-79 (second) and 1994-95 (third).

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We asked for your thoughts on Thursday's Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Brentford.

Here are some of your comments:

Nottingham Forest fans:

Fosi: Yet another abysmal performance. No fight, no passion and no idea. Is our season over?

Freddy: Huge disappointment at the result. I'd hoped that bowing out of the FA Cup would galvanise the players, but the opposite seems to have happened. They looked tired and devoid of ideas. I just hope an easier run of games will get us over the line - Chelsea last game of the season seems huge now.

Ken: It's over I'm afraid. Those players are exhausted and have no more to give. It was like watching us two seasons ago. The very thing that has been our rock - defence - is falling apart at exactly the wrong time. Our failure to sign one or two strikers has well and truly scuppered us.

John: We're on a bad run at at a bad time. I don't care one way or the other about Europe, except that we've got some players I wouldn't want to lose to clubs who get there. We're good enough to put this right but we're running out of games.

Brentford fans:

Mel: Dare we dream about Europe? Yet another top performance against a top six team. Incredible team spirit and winning mentality continues to deliver exceptional performances. Our run in looks favourable when compared to others, and a result against Manchester United keeps a European dream alive.

Tim: The Bees showing their teeth and battling for the points was a pleasant surprise. Michael Kayode blunted Forest's game plan by matching them for pace. Great to see Kevin Schade poke that ball home, the guy needs a bit of confidence to bring out his best.

David: Brentford controlled the game and executed their chances with confidence and precision. The travelling fans must have been planning their European tour on the way home. Another masterclass from Thomas Frank.

Josh: We are making a last minute surge for Europe. We couldn't do it could we? Don't stop believing!

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Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo on whether his side are feeling the pressure of pursuing a Champions League spot after defeat against Brentford: "We don't see it but we feel it.

"The explanation for that we have to find in ourselves. But I don't see (pressure), I see belief, desire and commitment.

"But the reality is we are struggling in some aspects of our game - focus and determination to be practical and solve the situations that are simple to solve.

"(To get back to ourselves) is the basic option we have. We don't have to change, we have to go back and find our version.

"We have been clear and spoken many times about how we play. Our basic is being compact and solid, we don't give away chances.

"We are a team that always covers, so our opponents have to do much more to achieve what they achieved today. With all respects to Brentford, it was too easy.

"We have been talking about how we are as a team and defensively we don't allow too many situations.

"We have had a lot of clean sheets. This is the basic pillar we have, but today it was the other way around.

"We credit Brentford, but I believe with a better approach we could have solved the situations."

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Director of football Richard Montague says Swansea City want to bring Lewis O'Brien back to the club next season – but concedes the midfielder's next move will be down to Nottingham Forest.

O'Brien has excelled in Swansea colours since arriving on loan at the back-end of the mid-season transfer window.

The 26-year-old said last month he would be open to the idea of returning to Swansea in 2025-26.

However, he remains under contract at the City Ground next season and the cost of any deal to bring him back to Wales is likely to be significant.

"We do know Lewis has loved his time here and we have loved having him here," Montague said.

"We'd love to have him back but he's under contract with Nottingham Forest and it's largely up to them what they choose to do.

"It's something we'd really be open to and we'd love to explore further, but ultimately when he's contracted to another club, it's not us in the driving seat."

O'Brien joined Forest from Huddersfield Town in 2022 following the Nottingham club's promotion to the Premier League.

But he has played only 17 times for Forest, and spent time on loan at DC United, Middlesbrough and Los Angeles FC before moving to Swansea after they sold Matt Grimes to Coventry City.

O'Brien has scored once in 15 appearances for the Swans, with his energy and dynamism in midfield key in the club's impressive form under Alan Sheehan.

"He is going to have an awful lot of suitors because he has played so well," Montague added.

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Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo spoke to BBC Match of the Day and Sky Sports after the defeat by Brentford: "Not a good performance - something that we have to analyse.

"Normally solid over the top of our defence, but credit to Brentford. They defended well and didn't give us much - disappointing night.

"I don't say it was because of the semi-final. It was high demands from a fitness aspect but we should have defended better.

"It's a bad game. I'm not really worried about the table, more how to correct the mistakes.

"Credit to Brentford but the situations we should solve normally with better defending. We are disappointed but it's about reacting and going for the next one.

On Brentford's long balls: "Something that we knew that Brentford does, but we should have done better."

On Forest's European hopes: "For the run-in, we have to find better solutions - a better game, better defending and better at creating opportunities.

"There are still four games to go, a lot of football to be played. We have to focus on ourselves and play better football."

Did you know?

• Nottingham Forest have lost three of their past four Premier League games, as many as in their previous 16 beforehand.

• They have also lost back-to-back home matches without scoring in the league for the first time since December 2023 under Steve Cooper.

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Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga spoke to BBC Match of the Day after defeat at home to Brentford on Thursday: "We've been really solid in defence this year. We lost in the semi-final the other day and we've lost today. We need to regroup for Monday.

"We forgot about the game at Wembley and wanted to start strong today. The goals we conceded weren't like us.

"We have to go game by game. We need to start winning and put ourselves in the best position possible and that starts with Crystal Palace."

Did you know?

• Since their return to the Premier League in 2022, Nottingham Forest have won just one of their 16 games in the competition in which they have had at least 51% of the possession. Against Brentford, they had 55% possession.

Bobbie Jackson
BBC Sport Journalist

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After losing Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City, Nuno Espirito Santo said Nottingham Forest have the five "biggest games of our careers" to wrap up in the Premier League.

With the prospect of returning to the Champions League for the first time since 1980–81, Forest needed to move on quickly.

However, form was against them, having lost three of their last four outings in all competitions prior to the visit of Brentford, and it proved to be another frustrating outing.

Forest, as they did against City at Wembley, looked fatigued and were unable to impose themselves on the game.

Brentford fully deserved to lead through Kevin Schade at half-time with Forest unable to mount a meaningful effort on goal.

The hosts did show an improvement early after the restart and could have levelled when Anthony Elanga forced a fine save from Mark Flekken.

It was Flekken who set up Brentford's second with a long ball picking out Yoane Wissa, who finished with a cute chip to take his league tally to 17.

With at least five places up for grabs in the Champions League, Forest - who sit sixth - are by no means out of the race and trail third-placed Newcastle by just two points.

But this was their game in hand on the sides above and a golden opportunity to take full control of their destiny - now they must rely on others to drop points while also finding a way to get back in their groove.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Nottingham Forest's performance

What did you make of Brentford's display?

Come back to this page on Friday to find a selection of your replies

This is a tough game for Nottingham Forest to bounce back in after the disappointment of losing their FA Cup semi-final on Sunday.

Forest did play well in the second-half against Manchester City, but the challenge for them here is to reach that level again. They need a win for their top-five hopes, and they will have to play well to get it.

Brentford are always dangerous and their form has picked up over the past couple of weeks, but as a boyhood Forest fan I am going with my heart over my head with this one.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Make your own prediction here, external

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Nottingham Forest will be disappointed with how Sunday's FA Cup semi-final went but going to Wembley to play a Manchester City team that have been there so often they would have known the odds were stacked against them.

That result now means Thursday's Premier League match at home to Brentford is now absolutely huge.

It is the first of three matches remaining at the City Ground and they really need to win all three to have that platform to reach the Champions League.

Thursday is their game in hand and the psychological impact of leapfrogging Chelsea, City and Newcastle into third would be immense.

After losing in such a big game for the club, it is that psychological side of the game that is so important to Forest now. They do not have the deepest of squads so it is all about being mentally switched on and having the highest levels of concentration.

They have had to rely on their resilience, physicality, counter-attacking and compact defensive block all season so nothing will change in terms of gameplan from here on out.

They have developed into a ruthless and clinical team that maximises its opportunities and they have to get back to that as quickly as possible. They have to remember what has got them into this position.

With five games remaining and a huge chance to reach the Champions League, the more inexperienced players could feel the pressure, but Nuno Espirito Santo has kept his squad grounded and humble all season.

Other teams may have a psychological advantage because of their experience, but Nuno's side have been consistent all season. He will be ensuring that they do nothing different now in terms of preparation and performance.

Thursday is a game they will believe they can win and their mini-season starts there.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward

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It is "only a matter of time" before success returns to Nottingham Forest, says former forward Nigel Jemson.

It is 35 years since the club last won a major trophy - Jemson the goalscorer in the 1990 League Cup final win - and they fell short of a chance at silverware after suffering a 2-0 defeat by Manchester City in the Fa Cup semi-final on Sunday.

However, having narrowly avoided relegation last season, Forest have propelled themselves up the league to be competing for European football spots.

"We've got an owner who is very ambitious, has put his money into the club, and we're making gigantic strides again," Jemson told East Midlands Today. "What we have done this year, people wouldn't have though we would do.

"I'm sure the good times are here now to stay. I don't want to tempt fate, but we are going to be playing in Europe next year, which is a phenomenal achievement.

"We have a great squad at the moment and Nuno, after what Steve Cooper did, has done phenomenally well and it's lifted the city.

"We are hoping now this current squad are the third era of this football club and long may it continue. If we keep playing as we are doing, doing good things on and off the pitch, then good times are around the corner for sure."

Having sat in the top three for a large amount of the campaign, Forest are currently sixth on the same points as Chelsea, but could return to the top three with victory in their game in hand against Brentford on Thursday.

"I know everyone wants to play in the Champions League and rightly so, it would be great financially for the football club," Jemson said. "But if you go back to the start of the season I would have happily taken 10th.

"We are making huge progress, so whether Champions League or Europa League, we are going to be representing Forest in Europe for the first time in a long time

"If we can continue to make progress and work hard then it is only a matter of time before we bring success back to the club."

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Only Southampton (182) and Fulham (181) have forced fewer high turnovers than Nottingham Forest in the Premier League this season (201). Despite this, Forest rank second for goals scored from high turnovers this term (nine) behind only Liverpool (10).

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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The established ways round Uefa's multi-club ownership rules are to either reduce a stake in one of them - as Brighton owner Tony Bloom did with his Belgian outfit Union-Saint Gilloise when they found themselves in the Europa League with the Seagulls - or put one of them into a 'blind trust' so an individual cannot exert influence over two clubs - as happened with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the potential conflict between Manchester United and French club Nice.

Yet Ratcliffe subsequently complained at the additional ruling, which prevented players being transferred from one club to another as he wanted United to sign central defender Jean-Clair Todibo, who joined West Ham on loan instead.

Uefa will need to assess exactly what Evangelos Marinakis has done before Nottingham Forest are cleared to play in European competition.

Last year it was 8 July before United and Nice, as well as Manchester City and Girona, were ushered through - and it is clearly possible Olympiakos and Forest will not end up in the same European competition.

But with Olympiakos starting out in the second qualifying round of the Champions League on 22 July and the potential for clubs to drop out of that competition into the Europa League before the actual tournament begins in September, the ruling has to be made a long time ahead of knowing whether Forest and Olympiakos could meet or not.

Read more about Marinakis' decision

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It has been 35 years since Nottingham Forest last lifted a major trophy, but it is still a day that former forward Nigel Jemson "will never forget".

The 55-year-old scored the only goal in a famous Wembley day that saw the Reds beat Oldham Athletic 1-0 and lift the League Cup on 29 April, 1990.

Looking back on the game, Jemson told East Midlands Today: "They are so strong the memories, even though it was 35-years-ago.

"Just playing for the shirt at Wembley was an incredible feeling. I can remember Cloughy [Brian Clough] saying to me the day before - he used to call me 'Big Head' because I was confident - he said 'go and score me a goal tomorrow'.

"But just to walk out at Wembley was an unbelievable feeling and to score the goal was incredible knowing my mum and dad were in the stands and they cut short a holiday in Portugal to be there.

"It is a day in my life that I will never forget."

A then 20-year-old Jemson joined Forest from Preston North End in 1988, signing for legendary manager Clough and playing alongside the likes of Stuart Pearce and Nigel Clough.

However, if it was not for the local greengrocer, the move might never have happened.

"From a young lad living afar at Preston, to have the chance to work under one of the greatest managers that has ever been was incredible," Jemson said.

"It was down to the greengrocer I think. He went to watch a Mansfield-Preston game and recommended me to Brian and luckily I got a telephone call to say come and sign for him

"He [the greengrocer] came down the day just after I signed with a big crate of fruit and veg to give me and said 'I was the one who recommended you', so it is a true story - right time, right place.

"It means everything to me this anniversary. It was the greatest honour I had in football. It was not just about me, we had a fantastic squad there.

"We had great times - Wembley nearly every year - I was very lucky and very privileged to play for this football club."

Alex Fletcher
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Premier League game against Brentford (kick-off 19:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Ola Aina could return to the squad but will undergo "one more day of assessment" before a decision is made on his fitness.

• On the mood after Sunday's FA Cup semi-final defeat: "The disappointment is the same as losing a game in the Premier League, but we must now react. It is just like in life, you grieve and then you react. If you fall down then you get back up and go again."

• An "emotional" Nuno thanked Forest fans for their support at Wembley adding that "the red sea was something special for all of us" and that the players "need them [the fans] now more than ever".

• He said that his side would "never stop believing" that they will qualify for the Champions League but it is now up to them "to perform".

• On opponents Brentford: "They are a very good team who have challenged well. They are good from set pieces and play nice football so we will have to be at our best."

• On the match: "All the games will be important in this fight and we have one game more. We are back at the City Ground in-front of our own fans and that is a big help."

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