Chris Wood, so often questioned for consistency, provided the answers with a first-half brace that set the tone. His movement was sharp, his finishing decisive, the kind of display that reminds you of the value of an old-fashioned No. 9. Both goals carried the stamp of a striker fully locked in, punishing a Brentford defence that couldn’t match his presence inside the box.
But it wasn’t just about Wood. The spotlight shone brightest when Dan Ndoye, making his debut, rose highest to head home from Morgan Gibbs-White’s pinpoint cross. It was a goal that carried weight beyond the scoreboard: a new signing stamping authority, a captain proving why he is still the heartbeat of this side. Gibbs-White’s creativity, vision, and command in midfield defined the rhythm of the game. Every Forest attack seemed to flow through him, and once again, he looked like the kind of player who elevates those around him.
Brentford, by contrast, looked stripped of their usual sting. Bryan Mbeumo’s move to Manchester United and Yoane Wissa’s absence left a void that was impossible to disguise. Keith Andrews, in only his first game in charge, got a harsh reality check. His side struggled for invention, and when Igor Thiago converted from the spot in the closing stages, it felt like a consolation wrapped in frustration rather than a genuine lifeline.
Forest’s dominance went beyond goals. They controlled tempo, won duels across the pitch, and looked sharper in transitions. Nuno Espírito Santo’s men were aggressive when pressing, composed in possession, and ruthless when chances came. The unveiling of James McAtee and Omari Hutchinson before kick-off only added to the sense that this squad is building something deeper.
The bigger picture? Forest are no longer simply trying to survive in the Premier League. Performances like this hint at a side ready to compete with greater ambition. For Brentford, however, this was a reminder that losing big names without ready replacements can tilt a season before it even starts.
At the City Ground, it wasn’t just three points. It was intent, conviction, and a glimpse of a Forest side that refuses to be overlooked.
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