Predicted Nottingham Forest XI as Nuno given food for thought ahead of big Brentford test
Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has some big decisions to make when it comes to selecting his Nottingham Forest team to face Brentford.
The Reds are fourth in the Premier League table on the back of their thrilling comeback win over Aston Villa. Goals from Nikola Milenkovic and Anthony Elanga saw Nuno’s side clinch the three points in a dramatic finale at the City Ground.
But in the immediate aftermath of victory, Nuno admitted he was already thinking about the next test. And the performance Trentside will have given the Portuguese plenty of food for thought as he weighs up his options for Saturday’s clash at the Gtech Community Stadium (3pm kick-off).
“We are competing against all the teams in the Premier League. It's not about that, it's about preparing for the next one, focusing on the task ahead of you and realising that you didn't achieve anything,” Nuno said after the full-time whistle had blown against Villa.
“Today is a big moment, let's enjoy it together - all the fans and players. Enjoy it, have a beer. But we know that Brentford next is going to be so tough. You just look at them at home and how many goals they score. I am now trying to work on that; that is what is most important, game by game.”
The Bees are yet to be beaten at home. They have a remarkable record of seven wins, one draw and 26 goals scored on their own turf.
Left-back Alex Moreno will be available again after being ineligible to face parent club Villa, but there is no guarantee he will come straight back into the team. Neco Williams was excellent at the weekend and had also done well against Manchester United in the previous game.
Decisions over whether to stick or twist also extend further up the pitch. Midfield could be a key battleground in the capital, making for a big call over who starts in the centre.
Ryan Yates, Nicolas Dominguez and Elliot Anderson all bring something different to the table. Nuno might also consider dropping Morgan Gibbs-White into a deeper role as he was deployed there to great effect during the second half against Villa when the Reds boss made a tactical tweak.
Yates came off with 20 minutes to go at the City Ground after rolling his ankle in the first half. He had been able to continue after receiving treatment but Forest clearly did not want to take any risks. Likewise, with Murillo after he also picked up a knock. Both players were to be assessed after the game but they didn’t appear to have suffered serious injuries and will likely be available for the trip south.
Nuno also has a decision to make over his wingers, assuming he utilises his usual 4-2-3-1 formation. Dominguez started on the right on Saturday and carried out his tasks well. The Argentine stuck to his defensive duties, although didn’t necessarily offer as much of a threat going forward as some other contenders for the role.
Meanwhile, Elanga helped to change the game when he came on and bagged the winning goal. Getting on the scoresheet will have done him the world of good and he will hope he has done enough to get back into the XI.
“As a player, you always want to play in every game. If you don’t play, and you’re on the bench, you’ve got to have the right attitude and not sulk about it. I wanted to make a difference,” he said afterwards.
Elanga certainly made a case for himself to be recalled to the line-up. However, Jota Silva might have something to say about that as he now has a few starts under his belt.
Forest predicted XI: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Yates, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood.
