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INTRODUCTION

Nottingham Forest’s late charge for the play-offs has faltered in recent weeks so a win is crucial for them on Monday to their chances of overhauling us, Wolves and Ipswich to snatch a place in the play-offs.

Their season has been a real mixed bag with five wins and three draws from their opening eight games seeing them top the table being followed by a winless run of nine matches, including our 3-1 win at the City Ground, which saw them plunge down into mid-table.

Back-to-back wins followed but then another poor sequence of results, with a win at rivals Derby the only bright spot, saw Forest legend and manager Stuart Pearce pay with his job.

Dougie Freedman was appointed as his successor and five wins and a draw in his first six matches in charge revived hopes of promotion – although two wins in the next five matches has checked those ambitions.

Forest are in their seventh consecutive season in the Championship following a three-year stay in League One.

The last time the former European champions graced the Premier League was for one season in 1998/99.

Although they were one of the founder members of the competition in 1992, they suffered immediate relegation and have only played in the new top flight for three other years in the middle of the 1990s.

WHO’S THE GAFFER?

Nottingham Forest is the third club to be managed by Dougie Freedman, who was appointed at the start of February.

He made his name by taking charge of Crystal Palace – a club he represented as a player nearly 400 times.

He took charge of the Eagles, after a brief spell as caretaker boss, in January 2011 and saved them from relegation from the Championship.

A bottom half of the table finish followed the next season, in which they beat Manchester United in the League Cup at Old Trafford, but after a good start to the following campaign he left to take over at Bolton.

Wanderers just missed out on the play-offs that season but were mid-table in 2013/14 and after a poor start to this campaign, Freedman left the club at the start of October.

He was a consistent goalscorer throughout his career as a player and as well as representing Palace, he also won two caps for Scotland and played for Barnet, Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Southend.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Not too many people reading this preview will remember the last time Brentford beat Nottingham Forest at Griffin Park.

That victory came in April 1949 when the Bees won 2-1 in an end of season Division Two (now Championship) encounter.

Since then, Forest have played in TW8 five times and come away with four 1-1 draws and a 4-2 win on their last visit near the end of the 2006/07 season.

Our record at the City Ground is slightly better in recent years – this season’s 3-1 win being preceded by a 2-1 victory in 2005, although we did lose there twice in a week in 2006 in League One and the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

OPPOSITION VIEW

Speaking before Good Friday’s game with Wolves on Friday, Forest manager Dougie Freedman spoke to the Nottingham Post about his side’s chances of making the play-offs.

“We hope things are still alive because we have still got to play Watford, Ipswich, Brentford and Wolves,” he said.

“They are sides above us and if we can take points from them it will make things very close with two or three games to go, when we want to be in there with an outside chance.

“The fixtures have given this opportunity and we have to try to take some points off them.

“We wanted to get to Easter and still be in shape to have a late run. We have achieved that. The next step is to beat the teams above us. That challenge means we are still in the fight and there is no reason why we cannot do it.”

NOTTINGHAM FOREST SQUAD NEWS

Former Brentford loan signing Chuba Akpom, who some Bees fans saw play alongside Moses Odubajo for England Under-20s at Barnet last week, joined Forest on loan deadline day and is likely to start up front.

Dexter Blackstock has returned to fitness but Britt Assombalonga, Andy Reid and Chris Cohen are all long-term injury victims.

Other players to look out for are Michail Antonio, who impressed against us at the City Ground, and Henri Lansbury.

DID YOU KNOW?

Nottingham Forest’s City Ground is just 300 yards from Notts County’s Meadow Lane, making them the closest grounds in England – and the second closest in the UK behind the two Dundee clubs.

IAN WESTBROOK

@ianwestbrook

Pubs in Brentford

 

For Forest fans coming down, you are probably aware there plenty of pub options pre-match and all are most welcoming.

 

There are now only three pubs around the ground, following the closure of the Royal Oak. The Griffin is closest to the away end (like 30 secs walk) and is very popular with away fans – but also very, very busy. The New Inn is on the other side is also popular with away fans. The Princess Royal is the other option.

 

Other pubs slightly further afield for the more creative amongst you include (and this is by no means a definitive list) include  … The Globe (Windmill Rd) &The Lord Nelson (Enfield Rd)  – both incredibly friendly and cosy away-frienly pubs .. frequented by ‘away fans in the know’. Boro fans and Bees fans had one hell of a party before and after the match in these boozers (despite us losing)- and The Plough (Northfields Ave) in Northfields is a decent stop-off if you are coming by tube to Northfields before making your way down to the ground (normally stopping off at The Globe and Lord Nelson en route).

There is also a pub right by Brentford station always referred to as … the Pub by Brentford station.

For ale head to the Magpie and Crown pub on Brentford High Street. The Royal Horseguardsman can probably hold 15 of you at a push. The Brewery Tap is a cosy boozer by the river. And if you are super adventurous, get off at Kew Bridge and visit the brand new boozer One Over the Ait right on the river – beside the bridge. There are loads more too.

 

A quick Google search and you’ll find them all. There are many many more too if you have a look around.

 

Parking is pretty easy away from the ground going up towards and over the A4 Great West Rd (ie. North) via Ealing Rd or Windmill Rd.