Brentford vs Nottingham Forest: Watch this exciting match tomorrow?

After experiencing different outcomes in their FA Cup third-round replays, Brentford and Nottingham Forest are now preparing for their Premier League match at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday. Brentford had an exciting but disappointing FA Cup game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, losing 3-2. On the other hand, Nottingham Forest managed to win their match against Blackpool after a tough 120-minute battle.

Brentford had another intense match against Wolves, which ended in a 1-1 FA Cup draw on January 5. This was the second time in a month that they faced Wolves, with the previous encounter resulting in a 4-1 defeat for Brentford. In this recent match, Brentford initially took the lead when Nathan Collins scored against his former team. However, Nelson Semedo equalized for Wolves before half-time, and Brentford regained a slender lead when Neal Maupay scored. But once again, they were pegged back when Nathan Fraser found the net.

The game went into extra time, and in the 110th minute, Matheus Cunha scored for Wolves, sealing their victory. This loss extended Brentford's winless streak to seven matches, with six of those ending in defeat. They now find themselves in a precarious 16th place in the Premier League, just three points clear of the relegation zone.

Brentford has not won any of their last five Premier League matches, marking their longest losing streak in the top tier since their return to the Premier League in 2021. However, there is some optimism as their leading striker is set to return to action in their upcoming match, which could boost their morale.

A total of four goals were scored at the City Ground during Nottingham Forest's initial FA Cup clash against Blackpool. In their rematch, both teams remained committed to attacking, resulting in another four-goal spectacle at Bloomfield Road over 90 minutes.

Nottingham Forest had a two-goal lead in the match, but they allowed Blackpool to level the score as Albie Morgan and Kyle Joseph found the back of the net in response to goals from Danilo and Andrew Omobamidele. However, after a brief interruption due to a medical emergency in the crowd, Chris Wood scored the fifth and final goal of the game, securing a victory for Nottingham Forest and extending their unbeaten streak under manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

Interestingly, while Brentford suffered a defeat with a 110th-minute goal against Wolves, Chris Wood scored Forest's decisive goal also in the 110th minute, leading Santo's team to their third win in four games, showcasing the positive impact of the new manager.

Nottingham Forest currently sits one place and one point ahead of Brentford in the Premier League standings, although they have played one more match. Under Santo's guidance, Forest has seen surprising successes against Premier League opponents like Newcastle United and Manchester United. They have been involved in high-scoring matches, having scored at least twice in all five of their matches under Santo. However, their defense has been porous, conceding eight goals in these games. Notably, Forest has yet to win any of their three previous Premier League encounters with Brentford.

Team News: Brentford vs Nottingham Forest

After an arduous eight-month absence from Premier League action, Brentford's highly sought-after player, Ivan Toney, has completed his extended suspension and is now eligible to return to the Gtech turf. He has been diligently working on his fitness behind closed doors, and it's expected that he will make an immediate return to the starting lineup.

Additionally, the upcoming match on Saturday could mark the debut of Sergio Reguilon, whose loan signing from Tottenham Hotspur was announced on Wednesday evening. Reguilon's arrival provides valuable cover for the injured Rico Henry (knee) and Aaron Hickey (thigh).

However, Brentford will be without several key players due to injuries and international commitments. Bryan Mbeumo (ankle), Kevin Schade (groin), and Christian Norgaard (ankle) are unavailable. Yoane Wissa, Saman Ghoddos, and Frank Onyeka have international duties to fulfill, but Kristoffer Ajer has returned to the starting lineup after recovering from a foot issue.

On the Nottingham Forest side, they have a significant number of international representatives, with Ola Aina, Ibrahim Sangare, Serge Aurier, Willy Boly, Moussa Niakhate, and Cheikhou Kouyate being called up for the Africa Cup of Nations. However, Kouyate has left the Senegal camp due to the passing of his father.

Nottingham Forest has also faced some injury concerns, with Divock Origi (groin), Felipe (thigh), and Anthony Elanga (knock) missing the recent match against Blackpool. Taiwo Awoniyi has been dealing with a long-term groin injury. Additionally, during the Blackpool clash, Murillo and Callum Hudson-Odoi had to be substituted due to undisclosed issues, leaving their availability for Saturday uncertain. Scott McKenna and Joe Worrall are available to step in for Murillo in defense if needed.

Possible Starting Lineups:

• Brentford: Flekken; Collins, Ajer, Mee; Roerslev, Janelt, Jensen, Baptiste, Reguilon; Toney, Maupay
• Nottingham Forest: Turner; Montiel, Omobamidele, Worrall, Toffolo; Danilo, Mangala; Yates, Dominguez, Hudson-Odoi; Wood