Nuno Espirito Santo needs to get his Nottingham Forest back – and fast

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Nuno Espirito Santo is facing his biggest challenge of the season — finding a way to get his Nottingham Forest back.

Four games will decide the outcome of a campaign that, for nine months, had promised to deliver a fairy tale ending, in the form of a top-five finish and Champions League football.

All is not lost. Forest still trail third-place Newcastle by only two points. They are behind Chelsea —  who occupy the all-important fifth place and visit the City Ground on the final day — only by goal difference.

Forest can still secure their dream finale but, to do so, they must rediscover the identity that had carried them this far. And fast.

Forest started Thursday night’s game with Brentford with something close to their strongest starting XI, courtesy of Neco Williams’ return from suspension and Aina from injury, and one that has frequently delivered big moments. But they ended it with a desperate looking 4-2-4 formation, having lost their way in uncharacteristic fashion.

Nuno’s side rarely concede soft goals, particularly when faced with Forest’s strongest back four. The 13 clean sheets Matz Sels has kept this season is the most in the Premier League. But — while the Belgian was not to blame — Forest have rarely conceded two softer goals in Nuno’s entire tenure than they did to Brentford.

The first came from a long punt upfield from Nathan Collins. After Ola Aina lost his footing in the crucial moment, Kevin Schade prodded beyond Selz. The second was even more out of character, as Murillo failed to get a head on a huge clearance from Mark Flekken, the Brentford goalkeeper, before his central defensive partner, Nikola Milenkovic, allowed the ball to bounce over him, leaving Yoane Wissa to apply a dinked finish.

Kevin Schade scores Brentford’s first goal (Darren Staples/AFP via Getty Images)

Murillo and Milenkovic have formed the best defensive partnership that Forest have had in decades but these were two rare moments of fragility and they could hardly have come at a worse time.

Forest have now lost three of their last four Premier League games, which is as many as they had lost in their previous 16 games (W11 D2 L3). This was also the first time that Forest have lost consecutive home games without scoring in the league since Steve Cooper was still in charge, in December 2023. Forest have also now conceded the opening goal in three of their last four Premier League games – as many as in their previous 16 beforehand.

There was one constant in evidence against Brentford, but not a good one — Forest have now only won once when they have gone behind in league games, losing the other eight. They did not often look like they could repeat their comeback against Aston Villa in December, when late goals from Milenkovic and Anthony Elanga sealed a 2-1 win.

There were mitigating factors. Most significant among them was the mental and physical fatigue that will have come with the emotionally draining 2-0 defeat to Manchester City at Wembley in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final. There was also a fussy refereeing performance from Darren England — who was lenient in not showing Brentford’s Keane Lewis-Potter a second yellow card in the first half, after he had blocked off Aina — which added to the stop-start nature of the game.

Forest fans had been outstanding at Wembley, offering passionate backing on a showpiece occasion. But while the City Ground was in fine form again for the visit of Thomas Frank’s team last night, their players did not turn up as they have done so many times previously.

Neco Williams (left) and Murillo had tough evenings (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Elanga frequently looked bright and was denied an equaliser by a fine save from Flekken and Chris Wood glanced a header narrowly wide, as he went in search of his 20th goal of the campaign.  But it was ultimately Brentford who showed the killer touch that Forest lacked. Since beating Brighton 7-0 in February, Forest have scored only two goals in five Premier League home games.

When asked if it was too simplistic to suggest Forest just need to find themselves again, Nuno said: “That is the basic option we have. We do not have to change. We have to go back and find our better version again. Our basic is being compact and solid. We do not give away chances. Opposition teams normally have to do much more, to achieve what Brentford achieved. With all respect, it was too easy for them.”

On Monday, Forest head to face a Crystal Palace side who might well have spotted another potential Achilles’ heel in their performance.

Prior to last night, Forest had averaged 39.8 per cent possession in their 33 league games, the lowest of any side in the division. That had been another key part of their swift, counter-attacking style. Last night, Brentford allowed them to have the ball. Forest had 55 per cent possession. Since promotion from the Championship in 2022, Forest have won just one of their 16 games in the competition in which they have had at least 51 per cent possession (D8 L6).

Nuno has done an outstanding job at Forest; he has given fans the ability to dream of what might be possible. But if those dreams are to become a reality, his challenge is to help his side find themselves again. Otherwise, the opportunity may slip from their grasp.

(Top photo: Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

This news was originally published on this post .

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