We haven’t achieved anything yet – Nuno remaining grounded despite Forest rise
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Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo said his team have not “achieved anything yet” after they ended Brentford’s unbeaten record at the Gtech Community Stadium to consolidate their place in the Premier League top four. Ola Aina and Anthony Elanga scored goals in either half to send Forest to a 2-0 win, their third victory in a row in the league as they continued their remarkable transformation from relegation candidates last season to European contenders.
Goalkeeper Matz Sels produced a stunning save in the second half to deny Kristoffer Ajer though it was not without a touch of fortune, deflecting the ball away with his face from point-blank range. “We started well, realising Brentford are very strong at home,” said Nuno. “The team was mature enough to understand that and be stable and compact, then trying to have control of the game. Overall a very good performance.
“I think there’s a lot of room for improvement. Our message is not about the table, it’s about improving the team, finding solutions. We didn’t achieve anything yet, it’s a still a very long way to go, starting against Tottenham (on Boxing Day). It’s going to be very hard.”.
This was a seventh league win in 10 for Forest and it is growing difficult to ignore the challenge they pose to the more established clubs looking to finish in the top four. In the first half they were fortunate to avoid falling behind through their own defensive lapses, first when Mikkel Damsgaard was left free inside the box to shoot from Yoane Wissa’s cutback, then when defenders Murillo and Morato conspired in comical defending to present Wissa with a volley which he steered over the bar.
