Returning to the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday morning, Brentford prepared to host Nottingham Forest in Matchweek 9 of the Premier League, looking to immediately wash away the bitter taste of their midweek cup exit. With Forest carrying a notorious league-match curse on Halloween, having lost their previous five fixtures played on October 31st dating back to 1992-93, the stage was set for some spooky Gtech magic.
Igor Thiago scores his second goal of the campaign in the 76th minute to secure all 3 points. (Brentford FC)
Keith Andrews’ side delivered exactly what was needed. Channeling maximum intensity from the first whistle, tightening up the defensive shape, and flashing that vintage transitional speed, the Bees secured a brilliant 2-0 clean sheet win. It’s our first three-point haul in the league since that statement victory over Chelsea in mid-September, and every single player stepped up when it mattered most.
The Takeaways from the match:
The Clean Sheet Return 🧤: After defensive shambles in recent weeks, a rock-solid team defensive display secured our first league clean sheet since our Chelsea victory in September.
Forcing the Issue ⚡: Dango Ouattara's relentless drive down the right forced Nikola Milenkovic into a disastrous own goal to break the deadlock.
Igor Sealed with a Kiss 🇧🇷: Igor Thiago capped off a colossal battle against Milenkovic by smashing home a brilliant late second goal to seal the three points.
Impact Bench Spark 🔄: Tactical changes from Keith Andrews (bringing on Aaron Hickey and Jaidon Anthony) completely unlocked Forest's high press in the second half.
🎯 Cagey Exchanges, Scares, and Ouattara's Breakthrough
The match began with a scrappy, physical tempo, but it was the Bees who looked up for the fight in West London. Mamadou Sangaré signaled early intent in the 4th minute, latching onto a cleared corner to smash a vicious volley that sailed just over the crossbar. However, self-inflicted scares reared their head early; in the 9th minute, Sepp van den Berg played a loose pass straight to the opposition, though Forest's Xaver Schlager stumbled and failed to capitalize on the gift.
Forest gradually grew into the contest, testing Brentford's structural discipline. In the 20th minute, Mathias Jensen slipped a quick through ball to Igor Thiago, whose rushed snapshot was lashed wide under heavy pressure from Nikola Milenkovic. Moments later, the Gtech held its collective breath in the 24th minute: a midfield giveaway led to a quick Forest throw-in while Brentford's defense was caught upfield. James McAtee drove forward completely unchallenged, cutting inside to curl a left-footed effort that whistled just a whisker past the far post past a helpless Caoimhín Kelleher.
Then, vintage Brentford transitional speed unlocked the game in the 30th minute.
A towering long ball from Kelleher found Dango Ouattara sprinting down the right wing. Ouattara isolated his marker, drove aggressively to the byline, and fired a fierce, venomous cross hard across the face of the six-yard box. Milenkovic lunged to cut it out, but the ball took a nasty, wicked deflection off the defender and looped straight over Mat Sels and into the back of the net!
1-0 Brentford! ⚽️ 30’ | GOAL! Nikola Milenkovic (Own Goal)
Moments later, Kevin Schade, shuffled into a more central role with Thiago pushed wide, showed world-class flair, executing a cheeky nutmeg flick through Milenkovic's legs before drawing a foul just outside the box. Mathias Jensen stepped up to take the resulting 38th-minute free-kick, rifling a stunning strike that violently rattled off the crossbar!
Halftime Score: Brentford 1 - 0 Nottingham Forest An extremely cagey, hard-fought first 45 minutes. Forest stifled our counterattacks well, but sheer pace and persistence earned the Bees a narrow, deserved lead at the break.
🥊 Defensive Heroics, Hickey's Vision, and Thiago's Sealer
Oliver Glasner made a double change for Forest at the restart, and the visitors caught Brentford momentarily napping, with Kelleher sharp off his line to deny Liam Delap in the opening minutes. The tension ramped up in the 54th minute when Forest nearly capitalized while Keane Lewis-Potter was temporarily off the pitch receiving treatment after a heavy collision with Daniel Munoz. Morgan Gibbs-White floated a gorgeous cross to a completely unmarked Ryan Yates at the back post, but Yates somehow nodded it over the crossbar. Massive let-off!
Recognizing the midfield was getting stretched, Keith Andrews intervened in the 62nd minute, introducing Mikkel Damsgaard and Aaron Hickey to lock down the center of the pitch. The defensive resilience held firm under a wave of Forest pressure, highlighted by Igor Thiago producing a stunning goal-line clearance in the 66th minute to swat away a well-worked Forest corner routine.
With the match hanging in the balance, Brentford's substitutes combined to deliver the decisive knockout blow in the 76th minute.
Aaron Hickey collected the ball deep in our own half and unleashed a scintillating, laser-guided low through ball down the right channel for Jaidon Anthony. Anthony blazed into the penalty area and squared it perfectly across the center. Igor Thiago met it first time, lashing a shot that was initially blocked by Milenkovic, only for the ball to deflect off the Serbian defender once more and spin into the back of the net to send the Gtech into absolute rapture!
2-0 Brentford! ⚽️ 76’ | GOAL! Igor Thiago (Assisted by Jaidon Anthony)
Armed with a two-goal cushion, the Bees played with immense swagger, effortlessly passing around Forest's high press. Schade continued to torment the visitors until he made way for Callum Wilson in the 84th minute, capping off a phenomenal individual shift.
🐝 The Bees Are Back!
What a massive, cathartic three points. After navigating a grueling week of cup heartbreak and frustrating performances, the Bees put on a complete masterclass at the Gtech. Not a single player had a poor game; every single man executed their role, dug deep into the physical 50/50 battles, and delivered a clean sheet against a tough Forest side.
Igor Thiago and Nikola Milenkovic battered each other in an epic physical duel all afternoon, but our talisman got the last laugh with his crucial goal. With energy, tenacity, and proper fight back in the squad, the boys in red and white have firmly got our league campaign back on track.
Final Result: Brentford 2 - 0 Nottingham Forest
Come On You Bees! 🐝
Posted: October 31, 2026 @ 2:11 PM EST
