Brentford vs Nottingham Forest Best Bet: Betting Preview

The Premier League fixtures are coming thick and fast during this festive period, and our expert Nathan Joyes has provided his Brentford vs Nottingham Forest Best Bet, team news, lineups and fixtures preview.

It’s been a memorable season to date for Forest fans, who celebrated moving into 4th place in the Premier League after their dramatic late win against Aston Villa. Having beaten Man United at Old Trafford the week before, Forest are certainly this year’s surprise package.

Brentford, however, have been formidable at home. After a narrow 2-1 loss on the road against Chelsea, the Bees will be buzzing to be back on home soil, where they have won five Premier League matches in a row.

Brentford vs Nottingham Forest Best Bet 1: Bees to sting Nuno’s side once more

England, Premier League, Saturday, December 21st, 15:00 (UK)

It would take a brave man to back against Nottingham Forest this season. However, it would take a braver man to back against Brentford when they are at home in the Premier League – which is also a venue Forest haven’t enjoyed often in recent years.

After two 3-0 defeats on their travels, Nuno Santo’s side pulled off an incredible 3-2 victory against Man United – the first time Forest have won at Old Trafford in the Premier League. They channelled their performance in Manchester and brought it back home, scoring two late goals to topple Aston Villa and keep their European dream alive.

Quite frankly, Forest fans are pinching themselves and they’re enjoying the ride, but this fixture presents a potential bump in the road – and a defeat they might have to accept.

That’s because Brentford have the best home record in the Premier League. Winning 22 points from just eight matches, they’ve also scored 26 goals – it has certainly been one of the more entertaining venues to watch football this season.

In fact, in their last five Premier League matches – which the Bees have won – they have scored at least three goals across those games, including four plus in four of them. In short, Thomas Frank’s side are ruthless in front of their own supporters, and although they’ve yet to face a top four side, they did comfortably beat Newcastle 4-2 two weeks ago.

Forwards Bryan Mbeumo (10) and Yoane Wissa (9) are responsible for 19 of their 32 goals – and we’ve yet to see a real taste of their big money signing Igor Thiago due to injuries before the season began. If he can begin to weigh in with goals, Brentford can be looking to secure a European spot for next campaign.

Yes, Forest have the 3rd best away record in the league, securing valuable points at Anfield, Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford, but this completely different test may just catch them out. 

Brentford are direct, in your face and relentless throughout the 90 minutes – and many teams can’t cope. Forest’s defence has massively improved, but we’ve still seen weaknesses that the Bees will want to exploit.

Forest have conceded eight goals in their last three away matches, and Brentford will want to add to that tally on Saturday afternoon. Scoring 26 of their 32 goals, and only conceding 14 at home compared to 16 on their travels, they are the team to beat at home but it might take a stronger team than Forest to do just that.

• Brentford vs Nottingham Forest Best Bet 1: Brentford to win
• Best Odds: 2.10
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 7/10

Brentford vs Nottingham Forest Best Bet odds via bet365 as at 16:00, December 16th, 2024. Odds may now differ.

Brentford vs Nottingham Forest Injuries, Team News and Possible Lineups

Yoane Wissa was moved into Igor Thiago’s role for the Chelsea fixture, but the Brazilian may come back into the starting XI at home this weekend. Even if he does, Nuno Santo will know his side will need to find a way to contain Wissa and Mbeumo over anyone else. If he doesn’t manage to do that, Brentford can close the gap on the top six.

Forest are unlikely to change their team after their impressive 2-1 win against Aston Villa, although Santo will need to decide whether to keep Neco Williams in at left-back after impressing while Alex Moreno sat out due to his loan agreement.

Brentford possible starting lineup:
Flekken; Pinnock, Collins, van den Berg, Lewis-Potter, Norgaard, Yarmolyuk, Mbuemo, Carvalho, Wissa, Thiago

Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:
Sels; Aina, Murillo, Milenkovic, Williams, Yates, Hudson-Odoi, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Dominguez, Wood

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