Igor Thiago was on target as Brentford were beaten 3-1 by Nottingham Forest on the opening day of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
A Chris Wood brace and Dan Ndoye’s header gave the hosts a commanding lead at the break. Thiago stroked home from the penalty spot on 78 minutes to open his account for the Bees.
Summer signings Caoimhín Kelleher and Antoni Milambo were in from the start at the City Ground.
Jordan Henderson was named among the substitutes, while club-record signing Dango Ouattara was not registered in time to feature.
Mikkel Damsgaard was not named in the matchday squad following the birth of his baby.
Brentford fell behind inside the opening five minutes. Elliot Anderson’s in-swinging corner, won by Callum Hudson-Odoi, dropped kindly for Wood and the New Zealand international stabbed a bouncing ball beyond Kelleher and into the far corner.
Anderson then had two chances in quick succession. The first, a fierce strike from the right of the area following some neat interplay involving Ndoye and Morgan Gibbs-White, was blocked.
The second saw the former Newcastle United man skew wayward having been picked out by Neco Williams’ cross from the left.
Anderson then tried his luck from 25 yards, but his low drive didn’t have the power behind it to trouble Kelleher.
The Bees’ first opportunity fell to Yehor Yarmoliuk. Following a duel between Murillo and Thiago, the midfielder seized on a loose ball, drove to the edge of the box and saw a shot with the outside of his right boot parried by Matz Sels.
On 33 minutes there was a VAR check for a possible Forest penalty after Anderson’s free-kick struck Milambo’s arm, but the spotkick was not given.
A big chance fell to Thiago five minutes before the break. Rico Henry, making his first start since January, motored past Ndoye and delivered a low cross from the left.
Mathias Jensen’s miscued effort landed at the Brazilian’s feet and his deflected strike from the centre of the box bounced out for a corner.
With Brentford looking to finish the first half with a flourish, Forest extended their advantage.
On 42 minutes, Gibbs-White, under pressure from Michael Kayode, whipped a cross into the box. Ndoye ghosted in and looped a header back across goal and into the net.
Forest added a third in stoppage-time, when Wood raced on to Anderson’s through ball, rounded Kelleher and rolled home.
Kevin Schade replaced Milambo at the break and joined Thiago and Keane Lewis-Potter in attack. Fábio Carvalho dropped back to take Milambo’s place in midfield.
Brentford made a bright start to the second half. Ibrahim Sangaré’s clearance dropped to Lewis-Potter on the edge of the box, and the forward lifted a half volley over the crossbar.
Lewis-Potter met Kayode’s long throw with a looping header that landed on the roof of the net; at the other end, Sangaré’s strike from distance whizzed past Kelleher’s right post.
On 59 minutes, Carvalho took Yarmoliuk’s short pass on the turn and shot high and wide. Hudson-Odoi’s rising effort was well held by Kelleher.
Gibbs-White’s overhead kick, connecting with Hudson-Odoi’s cross from the left, flew just over the bar.
The pair combined again moments later, with Gibbs-White’s strike from the edge of the box clearing the crossbar by a greater distance.
On 73 minutes, Kayode launched another throw into the box, and Sepp van den Berg’s glancing header was held by Sels. In a carbon copy of that opportunity, van den Berg’s header struck a Forest defender and bounced out for a corner.
Brentford made the set-piece count. Carvalho delivered into a crowded area and, following contact with van den Berg’s back, the ball struck Sangaré’s raised arm.
Referee Peter Bankes pointed to the spot, and Thiago made no mistake from 12 yards, sending Sels the wrong way to pull a goal back for the Bees late on.
Nottingham Forest: Sels; Aina, Milenković, Murillo, Williams; Sangaré, Anderson; Ndoye (Jota 79), Gibbs-White (Yates 84), Hudson-Odoi; Wood (Jesus 79)
Subs not used: Gunn, Morato, Awoniyi, Jair, Boly, Abbott
Brentford: Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, van den Berg, Henry (Hickey 88); Yarmoliuk, Jensen (Henderson 68), Milambo (Schade HT); Carvalho, Thiago, Lewis-Potter (Onyeka 68)
Subs not used: Valdimarsson, Ajer, Arthur, Roerslev, Peart-Harris
Andrews on Forest defeat
Keith Andrews reacted to Brentford’s 3-1 loss against Nottingham Forest.
“It was a really disappointing first half and a really disappointing result,” said Andrews.
“It got away from us in the first half at stages and they were clinical, which we knew they would be.
“We were a little nice at times, and I didn’t like it.
“It’s easy to say in the second half to show what you’re about and show some personality, but it’s not always easy to implement it on the pitch. I was really happy with what the players showed in the second half.”
On the absence of Ethan Pinnock, Andrews added: “Ethan just picked up a knock in training, it was pretty innocuous really.
“It’s nothing major, I don’t think. He’s being treated back at the training ground and hopefully will be available pretty soon.”
Thiago: Brentford fans’ backing means a lot to me
Igor Thiago stressed the importance of the Brentford fans’ backing after Sunday’s 3-1 loss at Nottingham Forest.
The striker scored his first competitive goal for the club at the City Ground.
“It means a lot to me – I want to score more goals for them,” said Thiago. “I want them to keep singing my name. I feel happy with my first goal, and I hope I score more for the club.
“It was a difficult game, a difficult first half, but we kept going. I think we did well in the second half and found the press.”
