Five things we learned about Nottingham Forest in their statement Premier League win vs Brentford

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Nottingham Forest ensured that they would spend Christmas in the top four of the Premier League, beating Brentford 2-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Nuno Espirito Santo would’ve been delighted as Forest beat Brentford to earn his side a third successive Premier League victory as we enter the busy Christmas period.

Espirito Santo’s tactics were praised by former Forest man Brian Laws, as the Forest squad showed their ability to adapt to a five-at-the-back system.

One of the key beneficiaries of the tactical switch was goalscorer Ola Aina, who excelled in the right-wing back role. Forest fans praised Aina for his performance, whilst Murillo was hailed by Lewis Jones for his display at the back.

After a brilliant tactical display by Espirito Santo and his Forest coaching staff, here are five things we learned from Forest’s 2-0 win against Brentford.

Neco Williams earns his Forest left-back spot

Preferred ahead of Alex Moreno once more, Neco Williams showed why the Forest manager has put his faith in him with a strong performance against Brentford.

Williams drove down the line and cut back for an onrushing Aina, who slammed home Forest’s opener. Forest are cautious about signing Moreno permanently, which won’t be helped by the exceptional performances of Williams.

Anthony Elanga repays Espirito Santo’s faith

After Forest fans praised Anthony Elanga for his cameo against Aston Villa, Espirito Santo gave the Swedish winger a chance from the off to tremendous effect.

Elanga scored Forest’s second goal which gave them full control of the match, whilst providing an outlet for counter-attacks throughout before being subbed off.

Espirito Santo admitted to being frustrated by Elanga, but back-to-back scoring performances will go a long way to easing those frustrations.

Forest don’t need to rely on Chris Wood

Thomas Frank was wary of Chris Wood in the buildup to his side’s clash with Forest, but the Kiwi international was uncharacteristically quiet against Brentford.

Wood missed his only clear-cut opportunity in the first half, managing two more shots in the game but only two touches in total in the Brentford box.

Despite this, Forest managed a fairly potent attacking performance without their key scoring threat, highlighting to Espirito Santo that his side can secure victories even if Wood is struggling.

Morgan Gibbs-White thrives in a deeper role

Given the formation switch, Morgan Gibbs-White was asked to perform in a deeper role for Forest against Brentford, one which he starred in.

Whilst Robbie Mustoe praised Gibbs-White for his attacking output against Villa, it was his defensive work that stood out against The Bees, winning nine defensive duels and completing four tackles in the heart of Forest’s midfield.

Gibbs-White will undoubtedly revert back to his more advanced role on Boxing Day, but Espirito Santo will be pleased to know that he can rely on his talisman in more varied midfield roles.

Forest in the top four at Christmas

Even the most optimistic of Forest fans surely couldn’t have predicted that they’d see their side consolidate their fourth-place position going into Christmas.

From Forest’s win against Manchester United at Old Trafford to Saturday’s assured victory over Brentford, Espirito Santo and his Forest squad are showing no signs of relenting in their push for European football.

If they can keep up the pace, the second half of the season could go down in Forest’s history as one of the club’s most remarkable league seasons.