Nottingham Forest v Brentford Betting Preview, Thursday 1 May

We wrap up week 34 in the English Premier League with an intriguing clash at the City Ground as Nottingham Forest take on Brentford. Forest will be looking to respond after their FA Cup heartbreak, while Brentford arrive in confident mood following a strong run of away form. With both sides pushing to end the season on a positive note, an entertaining contest could be in store. Here are my thoughts, along with a suggested bet for your consideration.

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NOTTINGHAM FOREST v BRENTFORD – Click here to bet

Nottingham Forest will be eager to bounce back on Thursday night as they welcome Brentford to the City Ground, just days after their disappointing 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. Despite the setback, Forest remain firmly in the hunt for Champions League football next season, sitting 6th in the table with 60 points. Victory here would lift them into 3rd place, leapfrogging Newcastle United as the race for Europe intensifies.

Nuno Espírito Santo’s side have punched above their weight this season, though signs of fatigue have crept in recently, with Forest losing twice in their last three appearances across all competitions. In league action, they have picked up nine points from their last five games, winning three and losing two. At the City Ground, Forest have been formidable, boasting the seventh-best home record in the division with just three defeats from 16 outings. However, they did suffer a rare setback in their last home match, falling 1-0 to Everton—a game that also ended a run of four successive clean sheets on home soil. Defensively, Forest have been excellent at home overall, conceding just 11 league goals at the City Ground this season—the fewest of any side in the EPL.

Brentford, currently 11th with 46 points, travel to the Midlands with far less pressure. Thomas Frank’s side appear to be out of the European picture but will look to use this fixture to maintain their strong finish to the season. The Bees have had the benefit of a longer preparation, having last played on April 19th when they beat Brighton 4-2 in an entertaining contest. They’ve collected eight points from their last five Premier League matches and have rediscovered their touch away from home—losing just once in their last eight away league games (five wins, two draws).

Brentford’s goal threat on the road has been particularly impressive, scoring 16 times across their last seven away matches at an average of just over two goals per game. This marks a sharp turnaround from earlier in the campaign, where they had collected just a single point from their opening eight away fixtures.

Head-to-Head

Nottingham Forest earned a 2-0 victory earlier this season in the reverse fixture and are unbeaten in three of their last five meetings with Brentford. Their most recent clash at the City Ground ended in a 1-1 draw last season, highlighting how closely contested these sides have been in recent years.

Betting

Nottingham Forest 23/20

Draw 26/10

Brentford 23/10

Verdict

While Forest’s strong home form offers encouragement, Brentford’s revitalised away performances and attacking threat suggest this could be a closer contest than the league standings imply. Both sides have found the net consistently in recent weeks, and with Forest eager to bounce back and Brentford playing with freedom, goals at both ends look a strong possibility.

Suggested Bet: Both Teams to Score at 4/6

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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change