Chris Wood wasted no time in picking up where he left off last season, netting inside five minutes as Nottingham Forest cruised to a comfortable 3-1 win over Brentford at the City Ground.
The New Zealand striker, who hit 20 Premier League goals in 2024/25, bundled home from a corner to give the hosts an early lead. Forest’s dominance never relented, and new Brentford boss Keith Andrews endured a nightmare debut in the dugout.
Forest doubled their advantage just before half-time when Swiss debutant Dan Ndoye rose to head in Morgan Gibbs-White’s clever chipped cross. Two minutes into stoppage time, Elliot Anderson punished Sepp van den Berg’s loose pass, threading a perfect through-ball for Wood, who calmly rounded Caoimhin Kelleher to make it 3-0 at the break.
Brentford were second-best throughout but did grab a late consolation when Igor Thiago converted from the spot after Ibrahim Sangaré handled in the box. It was the Brazilian’s first Premier League goal, but far too little, too late.
Wood’s Ruthless Start
Forest’s talismanic No.9 showed once again why he’s vital to Nuno Espírito Santo’s system. His sharp instincts at set pieces and clinical finishing underline why he remains one of the league’s most reliable forwards.
Match Stats: Nottingham Forest vs Brentford
| Stat | Forest | Brentford |
|---|---|---|
| Total Shots | 11 | 10 |
| Shots on Target | 5 | 3 |
| Shots off Target | 4 | 4 |
| Blocked Shots | 2 | 3 |
| Shots Inside Box | 6 | 7 |
| Shots Outside Box | 5 | 3 |
Summary: Forest registered more shots on target and were far more clinical, while Brentford had plenty of box entries but lacked the sharpness to make them count.
Analyst Verdict
Forest looked sharp, aggressive and disciplined — exactly the kind of display needed to shake off last season’s inconsistency. Gibbs-White pulled the strings in midfield, while Ndoye impressed on debut. From watching their patterns, Forest’s press forced errors that Brentford never recovered from.
Brentford, however, looked fragile under Andrews. Without Wissa and Toney, they lacked attacking punch, and their defensive structure collapsed in key moments. Andrews will need time, but this start underlined the scale of his challenge.
Key Insights
- Chris Wood scored twice, starting his season with a bang.
- Ndoye marked his debut with a first-half header.
- Forest scored three before half-time — game over.
- Igor Thiago netted a consolation penalty on debut for Brentford.
- Forest secured their first opening-day win since 2017.
What’s Next
Forest travel to Everton next weekend looking to maintain momentum. With Wood already among the goals, confidence will be high in Nuno’s camp.
For Brentford, a home clash with Fulham awaits. Andrews will demand a reaction, particularly in defensive organisation, if they are to avoid another early setback.
Can Chris Wood match — or even beat — last season’s 20-goal haul after such a fast start?
0 Comments
First read message
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *