Nottm Forest vs Brentford: Ola Aina’s Reds on fire! Tricky Trees smash Onyeka Bees with Wood
Nottingham Forest continued their impressive Premier League form from last season with a dominant 3-1 home victory over Brentford in their opening game of the 2025/26 season.
Nigerian star Ola Aina was a key figure for Forest, helping them build on their impressive seventh-place finish last season that secured a European spot.
The clash also featured fellow Super Eagles stars as Forest’s Aina squared off against Brentford’s Frank Onyeka.
It's good to be back. 😍 pic.twitter.com/541Paj2rRP
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) August 17, 2025
Match Context
The big question heading into the game was whether Forest could improve on last season’s display and get off to a flying start at the City Ground.
Brentford, meanwhile, were aiming to regroup under new management after the departures of Thomas Frank and key forward Bryan Mbeumo.
The showdown also had added intrigue with Super Eagles teammates Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi facing off against their compatriot Frank Onyeka.
While Onyeka came off the bench, Aina was one of the few starters to keep his place for Forest, and he was instrumental in their confident display.
Nottm Forest vs Brentford - Match in Brief
Nottingham Forest dominated early and never looked back. Chris Wood opened the scoring in the 6th minute, then Dan Ndoye scored on his debut to make it 2-0 just before half-time.
Wood, who continued from where he stopped last season, 20 goals, added a third just before the break, finishing off a persistent Forest start.
In the second half, Brentford briefly rallied when Ibrahim Sangaré was penalised for handball, with Igor Thiago converting the 77th-minute penalty to make it 3-1. Forest remained firmly in control, with Morgan Gibbs-White central to the attack.
Final Thoughts
Nottingham Forest’s emphatic victory at the start of the campaign sends a strong message: their form from last season was no fluke.
Led by the prolific Chris Wood and decorated with standout performances from Ola Aina and debutant Dan Ndoye, the Reds are firmly on the rise.
Brentford, despite the effort of new signing Onyeka, will need to regroup quickly as they aim to rebuild under new leadership.
Forest fans can be excited as their team looks ready to challenge once again in the Premier League.