Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo has acknowledged his team’s difficulties after a disappointing 2-0 home loss to Brentford, which hindered their push for a top-five Premier League finish.
Kevin Schade and Yoane Wissa found the net for the Bees, exposing defensive vulnerabilities that Nuno believes could have been avoided. The Forest boss pointed to lapses in concentration, particularly from long balls that breached his side’s backline.
“Both goals came from very similar situations—ones we should have handled much better defensively,” Nuno admitted. “We’ve prided ourselves on being solid at the back, keeping clean sheets, but today was different. Brentford took advantage, though with better organization, we could have prevented those chances.”
The Portuguese coach also highlighted the lingering effects of their FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City, which he believes left the squad physically and mentally drained.
“There are multiple factors at play—lack of cohesion, hesitation in decision-making, and the mental toll of recent setbacks,” he explained. “The intensity of the City match took a lot out of the players, affecting our tempo today. Now, recovery and smart squad management will be crucial ahead of our final four games.”
Despite the setback, Nuno remains confident in his team’s ability to bounce back, stressing the need to rediscover their defensive solidity and collective focus.
“The desire and commitment are still there, but we’re clearly struggling in certain areas,” he said. “We must return to our core principles—being compact, disciplined, and hard to break down. Today, Brentford didn’t need to work too hard for their goals, and that’s something we have to address immediately.”
With just four matches remaining, Forest’s Champions League aspirations hang in the balance. Their next challenge comes against FA Cup finalists Crystal Palace, a crucial fixture as they look to reignite their campaign.
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