Brentford beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 as Oliver Glasner warns of a sixth manager

A 2-0 defeat that deepens Forest's slump

Brentford beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 at home on Saturday, 31 October, a result that left Forest in the bottom three and put their manager under growing scrutiny. The Evening Standard counted 12 Forest shots, two on target, against six Brentford efforts with one on target, while The Guardian put Forest's total at 15 shots. Whichever count is right, Forest's finishing let them down again, and their six league goals this season are the fewest in the division.

Forest's only shot on target, according to the BBC, came two minutes after Brentford went two goals up. Ryan Yates, a second-half substitute, planted a header high over the bar, and Liam Delap had earlier hooked a chance over the crossbar. Forest have won only one of their first nine league games this season.

How the goals came

Brentford took the lead around the half hour when Dango Ouattara's square pass across goal struck Nikola Milenkovic and looped past goalkeeper Matz Sels. Forest had threatened earlier through Murillo, Morgan Gibbs-White and James McAtee, but none of their efforts found the net. Igor Thiago made it 2-0 in the 76th minute, finishing after substitute Jaidon Anthony crossed for him. The win ended Brentford's four-match winless run and came in the 100th Premier League game at their ground.

Glasner warns of a sixth manager

Glasner, the fifth man to take charge at the club since the start of last season, said after the game that he had made too many compromises. He told the BBC's Match of the Day that a clear way now had to be shown and that everyone had to follow it.

“It's now time not to make compromises, it's now time to show a clear way and everybody has to follow.”

Asked what he meant by changes, Glasner said they would reach everywhere, and he took personal responsibility for the decisions made since he arrived. He said he had leaned towards a warmer approach with his players, and that if it did not work, the opposite approach was available.

“I don't need to be loved. I'm here not to be loved. I'm here to bring success to this club.”

Glasner has won only one of his nine Premier League games in charge. The Guardian noted that Forest went into the weekend third in Opta's expected table but third from bottom in the actual table.

Thiago back among the goals

Igor Thiago had scored only twice in 10 matches in all competitions before his goal at Sunderland on Wednesday, 28 October, in the EFL Cup. The Brazil forward now has four goals from 12 outings in all competitions, the BBC reported. Last season he scored 22 Premier League goals, bettered only by Erling Haaland's 27.

“It means a lot to me. I was waiting for this goal for so long this season.”

Thiago said the goal had meant a great deal to him after a long wait. BBC analysis said his form complements a Brentford side that is showing early signs of being in the European mix.

What comes next

Forest remain in the bottom three and face Manchester City, the league leaders, in their next match. Glasner said further changes would be made, and that the sixth manager would come in if the players did not buy in. Delap, who arrived from Chelsea for £50m according to The Guardian, has one league goal for Forest since signing and was withdrawn 20 minutes into the second half on Saturday after three shots, none on target.