Nottinghamshire

Nottingham Forest's 2-0 defeat at home by Brentford left them outside the Champions League qualification spots, but would reaching an alternative European competition count as a success?

Forest fan Saveena Johal tells The Football News Show why they can still make the top five, and why a Europa League spot would not be a bad consolation.

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BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray spoke on the latest Shut Up And Show More Football podcast about the reasons behind Nottingham Forest's recent poor form: "It's getting very nervy - you can tell that around the ground and in some of the performances. You're seeing players that have been absolutely outstanding all season now not reaching those levels. I think that's down to nerves.

"You look at some of the decision-making that has been going on on the pitch. You put it down to individual errors, but those individual errors haven't been happening over the course of the season so far. You start to wonder why they are happening now.

"Getting across the line, whatever the target you're aiming for, is always the most difficult time of a season. Nottingham Forest aren't used to challenging like this, certainly not in the Premier League. They haven't had too many promotion battles in all of those years either in the lower leagues.

"They are used to scrapping against teams who do slip up. Now they are finding themselves in battles with teams who don't.

"At the moment, I feel like we are being a bit left behind in that department."

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Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has given more detail on Callum Hudson-Odoi's latest injury, after the 24-year-old was substituted at half-time in Thursday's defeat by Brentford.

"He felt something. We have to assess how he is. We think it is his hamstring," Nuno said.

"This is our major concern first of all - try to solve the mistakes and correct them so we can compete better. At the same time, see if our players can hold on and keep going.

"From the FA Cup semi-final, there is a fitness issue in our players. Now we have to try to recover them and choose wisely so we can have as many as possible to compete in these next four games."

Defeat at the City Ground on Thursday was the club's fourth in five matches, but the Portuguese coach is determined to finish the season strongly in the push for Champions League football.

He added: "I'm not concerned about what's coming. I'm concerned about us - how can we compete against Crystal Palace? How can we be ourselves again? How can we be dominant even when we don't have the ball?

"But we don't give chances away because we have talent and speed. This has to be, and it is, my major concern."

Nottingham Forest have won nine away Premier League matches this season. They have only won 10 top-flight away matches in a season on three occasions - in 1977-78 (finished first), 1978-79 (second) and 1994-95 (third).

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We asked for your thoughts on Thursday's Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Brentford.

Here are some of your comments:

Nottingham Forest fans:

Fosi: Yet another abysmal performance. No fight, no passion and no idea. Is our season over?

Freddy: Huge disappointment at the result. I'd hoped that bowing out of the FA Cup would galvanise the players, but the opposite seems to have happened. They looked tired and devoid of ideas. I just hope an easier run of games will get us over the line - Chelsea last game of the season seems huge now.

Ken: It's over I'm afraid. Those players are exhausted and have no more to give. It was like watching us two seasons ago. The very thing that has been our rock - defence - is falling apart at exactly the wrong time. Our failure to sign one or two strikers has well and truly scuppered us.

John: We're on a bad run at at a bad time. I don't care one way or the other about Europe, except that we've got some players I wouldn't want to lose to clubs who get there. We're good enough to put this right but we're running out of games.

Brentford fans:

Mel: Dare we dream about Europe? Yet another top performance against a top six team. Incredible team spirit and winning mentality continues to deliver exceptional performances. Our run in looks favourable when compared to others, and a result against Manchester United keeps a European dream alive.

Tim: The Bees showing their teeth and battling for the points was a pleasant surprise. Michael Kayode blunted Forest's game plan by matching them for pace. Great to see Kevin Schade poke that ball home, the guy needs a bit of confidence to bring out his best.

David: Brentford controlled the game and executed their chances with confidence and precision. The travelling fans must have been planning their European tour on the way home. Another masterclass from Thomas Frank.

Josh: We are making a last minute surge for Europe. We couldn't do it could we? Don't stop believing!

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Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo on whether his side are feeling the pressure of pursuing a Champions League spot after defeat against Brentford: "We don't see it but we feel it.

"The explanation for that we have to find in ourselves. But I don't see (pressure), I see belief, desire and commitment.

"But the reality is we are struggling in some aspects of our game - focus and determination to be practical and solve the situations that are simple to solve.

"(To get back to ourselves) is the basic option we have. We don't have to change, we have to go back and find our version.

"We have been clear and spoken many times about how we play. Our basic is being compact and solid, we don't give away chances.

"We are a team that always covers, so our opponents have to do much more to achieve what they achieved today. With all respects to Brentford, it was too easy.

"We have been talking about how we are as a team and defensively we don't allow too many situations.

"We have had a lot of clean sheets. This is the basic pillar we have, but today it was the other way around.

"We credit Brentford, but I believe with a better approach we could have solved the situations."

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Director of football Richard Montague says Swansea City want to bring Lewis O'Brien back to the club next season – but concedes the midfielder's next move will be down to Nottingham Forest.

O'Brien has excelled in Swansea colours since arriving on loan at the back-end of the mid-season transfer window.

The 26-year-old said last month he would be open to the idea of returning to Swansea in 2025-26.

However, he remains under contract at the City Ground next season and the cost of any deal to bring him back to Wales is likely to be significant.

"We do know Lewis has loved his time here and we have loved having him here," Montague said.

"We'd love to have him back but he's under contract with Nottingham Forest and it's largely up to them what they choose to do.

"It's something we'd really be open to and we'd love to explore further, but ultimately when he's contracted to another club, it's not us in the driving seat."

O'Brien joined Forest from Huddersfield Town in 2022 following the Nottingham club's promotion to the Premier League.

But he has played only 17 times for Forest, and spent time on loan at DC United, Middlesbrough and Los Angeles FC before moving to Swansea after they sold Matt Grimes to Coventry City.

O'Brien has scored once in 15 appearances for the Swans, with his energy and dynamism in midfield key in the club's impressive form under Alan Sheehan.

"He is going to have an awful lot of suitors because he has played so well," Montague added.