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Daily Brentford Midweek Match Preview: Crunch Game at the Forest
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This is your Midweek Match Preview, as we look ahead to a massive game as the Bees travel to Champions League chasers Nottingham Forest aiming to cut the gap to 8th place and a possible Conference League place to just two points. We discuss a possible game plan to nullify Forest on the counter and breakdown a resilient defence and also look at the state of play following the weekend's matches.
Host: Daniel Toppin
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Transcript
Introduction & Podcast Goals
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to another episode of your Daily Brantford podcast with myself, Daniel, where today we'll be looking ahead to what is a crunch game on Thursday evening as we head to the city ground to take on Champions League chasing Nottingham Forest.
00:00:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just before we get going, guys, we're a brand new company, so we're looking for your support this season. And beyond, as we look to bring you the best and most in-depth coverage across the entire network, whether this is a five-star review on your favourite podcasting platform or a recommendation to your friends, we are very grateful for any support that we receive. so let's get stuck straight into this one.
Importance of Nottingham Game
00:00:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
i think it's a massive game in terms of our European aspirations. I think, That eighth place is there for the taking. Perhaps if we were to get a result here, I think if you look at our fixtures alongside the final fixtures for Fulham, Bournemouth and you would favour our fixtures. And if if we win here, it is just two points off the top eight, which is the closest we would have been for some time.
00:01:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
But that is easier said than done.
Team Changes & Strategy
00:01:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's get stuck into the team news. um In terms of changes in the last game against Brighton, I wouldn't expect too much. and But I wouldn't be surprised to see Vitaly Yannelt come back in for this one. For Jan Moliuk, I think Forrest are one of the strongest sides in the league. So I think you want your um more defensively solid players on the pitch. And I think Yannelt is that.
00:01:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think we need some steel in the midfield. I think we need a bit more experience in midfield, especially to prevent Forrest going on one of their quick breaks with the likes of Ilango and Hudson-Odoi, as they like to do.
00:01:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think Yannelt coming back in VR mode, if this one would probably be the right way forwards. It would not surprise me as well if we saw Coyote step aside for Christopher Ayer, but I would like to see Coyote stay in the side. I think he gives us much more going forwards.
00:02:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
He can unlock or help play a part in unlocking Brian and Boomer on that right-hand side. and He can give us another threat in terms of long throws into the box. I think one thing I learned from the first game against Forest this season is they're not an easy side to score against.
00:02:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And, you know, we're going to score here if we're to get a result. So, I think I would keep Coyote in the side. i think, you know, he's been with the club for a few months now.
00:02:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Thomas Frank seems to be trusting him a little bit more now. So i think with Coyote in the side, I think I trust now that he can be um clever enough, experienced enough um and capable enough to show that he can um do a job here defensively as well as his duties going forwards.
Player Availability & Concerns
00:02:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
One thing I wanted to mention before this one, I don't expect him to see him at all on Thursday evening, but where is Aaron Hickey? he seems to have disappeared um from the B team games. I think there was one um towards the end of last week where Nunes played, Henry played, um i think a couple of others played. think Jensen played as well.
00:03:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Aaron Hickey seems to have disappeared from those team sheets in um recent weeks. There's been no updates on the club, but Possible that there could have been some kind of setback um for him there, which is a shame to see.
00:03:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
and it's looking quite unlikely. We'll see him especially um between now and the end of the season. Will we see more of Gustavo Nunes this season, especially maybe in this game? It's something that I think we will have to i think we'll have to roll the dice with him if we're in a situation where 20, 30 minutes left.
00:03:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're losing the game and we need to get back into the game. I think he could be an option off the bench. I'd like to see more of him. We've only seen him on the pitch for a matter of minutes so far. It's hard to judge, but he scored in that B-team game um last week.
00:03:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I would like to see an attacking option come off the bench and really make a difference in a game for us this season. I don't think that's happened enough.
00:04:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
We haven't had the attacking options on the bench enough, even in recent weeks. players are coming back, but they're more defensive players in the last game. We had three centre-backs on the bench in but in Ben Meath and Pinnock and Christopher Ayer. So, Gustavo Nunez, hopefully we see a bit more of him.
00:04:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hopefully, as also though, he's not required and we are winning the game with 20 or 30 minutes left. We'll see about that. Matthias Jensen as well, also a more attacking bench option.
00:04:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Something I'd like to see, I'd like to see him replace Janel, replace Janel, you know, with some time on the clock to ah make an impact if we need a goal. And we saw what he can do with his delivery um for the fourth goal against Brighton.
00:04:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
The only other player i want to mention, Igor Thiago. There's been photos of him in training. It looks like he might be nearing a return. I'd probably expect him to play for the B team and before he makes the first team return. But again, having him on the bench, a completely different option um up front compared to Wissler, more of a target man type.
00:05:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
um really would be useful going into these last three or so games after the Forest 1. So let's see what happens. um And yeah, hopefully, I think, like I said before, the most important thing for these players, and I include Rico Henry in that as well, is to get them fit and firing for next season. and um Henry in particular, ah thought he struggled a little bit when he came on against Brighton, so I wouldn't expect him to start a game anytime soon.
00:05:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
and But is it really is about, for those three or four players, getting themselves fit um over the summer, ready for pre-season, um and hopefully they can contribute more next season.
Contract & Team Dynamics
00:05:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Jossa Silva's the only one I haven't mentioned. Obviously, his contract's up. We don't know what's going on with that. um He doesn't look like he'll return this season either. um So we'll keep an eye out on whether we renew it. I suspect probably not.
00:06:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
and We know how good he can be on his day, but i just don't think, you know, as a Premier League club... you know, we've we've carried his rages for the last couple of years without um really seeing any return. I just don't think it's feasible in the long term. Will he return at the same level? I think, you know, he could potentially have a really good career and in something like the Championship, um just building up his fitness in the next few years and maybe from there he can make a return to the Premier League. But We'll see on that one. And of course, we'll have a discussion about him once a decision is made on his future.
00:06:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
In terms of Nottingham Forest, full focus now for them on Champions League qualification after the FA Cup exit to Manchester City at the weekend. We all know all about their Dangerous front line. Chris Wood, so many goals in the Premier League this season up there with the likes of Brian and Bumo.
00:06:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah In between the lightning fast, Anthony Alanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi. That's how I probably expect them to line up in the front three. I know Alanga was on the bench to begin with against City, but they could be so dangerous in those three teams.
00:07:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
the speed and the pace on the counter um from the wingers. And then Chris Wood is like a target man and and and someone who's been a reliable source goals for them this season. And obviously at the back, Milenkovic, Murillo and Sales in goal, completely solid. I don't remember a game at the GTEC earlier this season where a team has...
00:07:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
controlled the game better than us or controlled the game better or kept us out better than Forest did um in December. So, We don't want to concede first in this one, put it that way. and There is a doubt over ever-present right-back Oleina as well. He's not been playing recently.
00:07:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
and They had a young kid play at right-back in the FA Cup, although that was due to Nico Williams being suspended. So he should be back straight into the lineup for this game. But Oleina, right-back, may miss out again.
00:08:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
After the break then, we will go into the previous meetings between the two sides and how I expect it to pan out on this occasion.
Podcast Platform Endorsement
00:09:00
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00:09:16
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Match History & Pressure Points
00:09:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to part two of your daily Brentford podcast looking ahead to our visit to the city ground on Thursday night. Looking back at our previous meetings against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, we were unbeaten with two home wins and two away draws against Forest prior to defeat the GTEC earlier this season.
00:09:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
not a terrible record, one of our better records against another Premier League side, but it's really difficult to compare different versions of Forest with this one, with them having finished 17th last season and only just escaping relegation the season before that as well.
00:10:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think this is a massive game with everyone else playing over the weekend. Forest have again dropped out the top five. They're sixth place at the time the game kicks off and they will require will require at least a point to get themselves back into the top five and all three if they want to climb back up to third.
00:10:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's really congested up there. They're currently on a mixed run with defeats against Aston Villa and Everton, either side of wins against Manchester United and Spurs. Now I have to ask, is the pressure getting to them? um They're not a side who are used to competing for UCL football. um They're not a side with a great deal of experience at the top end. You know, a lot of their players haven't ever played in Europe before.
00:10:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
um There's clearly now some kind of expectation or hope or, you know, you know realistic expectations um opportunity now for them to get into the Champions League and that be massive for a club like Forest especially with all their history and where they and the fact that they've been um there in the past but it was a very long time ago um what weight does this have on the players and I think at this stage of the season it could be a factor i think if we don't concede an early goal if we can keep it nil-nil after half an hour at half time after an hour
00:11:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think our chances of getting something out this game increase.
Game Strategy & European Aspirations
00:11:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think the um sense of anxiety or nervousness from the home crowd, I think gets worse and worse as time goes on. I thought that Everton game that Forest had at the city ground is a good example of that where Everton, we know what they're like too, quite defensively solid, um you know, really kept them at arm's length and ended up getting a goal later on to win the game. um But I think,
00:11:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, perhaps that goal at the end of the game came partly as a result of, you know, players and fans and and anyone's doing Forest slowly becoming a little bit anxious as the minutes went on um about the fact, you know, whether they're going to miss out on Champions League after all. So I think it's a massive game for us um and for them.
00:12:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
you If anybody has more to lose, it's Forest. You know, Brentford are a team at the moment who are trying to chase down those European spots. We've never been in those places all season.
00:12:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, we're going for a much more modest aim ah of just getting into the Conference League. and Obviously, the late winners for both Fulham and Brighton at the weekend in games that I expected them to win anyway and doesn't help. You know, there was that there was a moment on Saturday afternoon where Southampton were beating Fulham and West Ham were beating Brighton and we would have gone eighth if we had beaten Forest and those results stayed the same. That doesn't happen.
00:13:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
I expected um Brighton and Fulham to win those games. So we've got to respond now and and we've got to get a result here to keep up. um And then, like I said, from there, I think we've got the more favourable fixtures um between after this game and the end of the season.
00:13:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And also a massive game against Fulham as well. But going back to Forest, I thought... Looking back to the game at the GTEC, they were very solid, very controlled. um They score the early goal in the majority of their games. And I think if you get them one ahead, they've got you exactly where they want you.
00:13:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
um They will be solid defensively. They won't commit too many bodies forward and they will counter and they can counter quick with those wide players that we spoke about. So I think there is a ah case here to try and play them at their own game.
00:13:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Brentford are also so a team who are probably at their best during quick transitions, just like Forrest, you know, the likes of Mbuma, Wisser, Kevin Shard, the pace they have, the ability they have to get forward quickly, they can be dynamic, you know,
00:14:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
dams guard as well is always good to to play them in behind um and i think we've got to back and boomer and witzer especially to continue them at the momentum they built against brighton it was definitely their best game in a long time um do we then does that mean here we we do allow for us to have a bit more of the ball um and we see it deeper at times and and i think they would find that quite difficult with the profile of players they have um to break us down. It's not the way they want to play. It's not the way they like to play.
00:14:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Could we play them at their own game a little bit here? um I seem to remember at the GTEC they played with five at the back. I can't imagine them doing this at home and against us at the city ground. So,
00:14:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know Perhaps there'll be more opportunities in behind um that we found than we found previously. but what I would say is, and Boomer and Wistler can't have an off day here, we we need them on it um because it will be a really, really difficult game and they won't get a host of chances.
00:15:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'd be very, very surprised if this became an open game. um As I said, this is a huge game for our European ambitions following late winners from Brighton and Fulham at the weekend.
00:15:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
There is an opportunity, though, to cut the gap to eighth place to just two points following Bournemouth being held on Sunday against Manchester United with a late goal that actually went in our favour.
00:15:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And from there, like I said, I think arguably if we are able to get two points behind, we'll this might be the first time the season I back ourselves more strongly because I do think we have the more favorable fixtures.
00:15:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Of course, the other, um, variable here is if, if Palace win the FA cup, then eighth place doesn't get a European place at all. Um, there's nothing we can do to control that. We've got to, you know, keep doing our job.
00:15:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Manchester city will go into the FA cup finalist favorites and there's every chance Manchester city win and, and Palace don't and, and it's still on. So I think we've still got to keep going. um the cup finals a day before the fulham game so you know we'll find out the day before essentially how much um that fulham game could mean if we find ourselves in a good position in going into that one but then i'll give my prediction now for this game i will go one near brentford i'm not sure how much blind faith that is more than anything but
00:16:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
I do think it will be a tight game and I do think whoever may go ahead, um whoever goes ahead may be difficult to breach, particularly if it's Forest. um I think if we can keep it tight, keep it nil-nil for as long as possible, then our chances of nicking something improve.
00:16:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm going to back us to do that here. I think we've seen some signs in recent weeks of getting slightly better results against those better teams, something I've been calling us for us to do.
00:16:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
um You know, even looking back to the draw against Chelsea, the draw against Arsenal, beating Brighton. um So I think maybe we've turned a bit of a corner with that.
00:17:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm going to go 1-0 Brentford. I'm going to go Whistle on the score sheet and I'm going to go and exciting remaining few weeks of the season. That will do for today. Let's hope I'm right.
Conclusion & Next Steps
00:17:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
We hope you enjoyed today's episode. And once again, we'd be extremely grateful for your support as this will enable us to go bigger and better moving forwards.
00:17:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Daily Brentford can be found on x, Instagram or tik and TikTok under the handle at gspnbrentford. We'll be back again on Friday where we'll be reviewing the action from Thursday evening and also looking ahead.
00:17:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
um It's a quick turnaround to Manchester United's visit to the GTEC on Sunday. Until then, from myself, thank you for being with me.