Five things we learned from Nottingham Forest’s 3-1 win against Brentford

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The 25/26 Premier League season is underway for Nottingham Forest, hosting Brentford at the City Ground on the opening day.

Nuno Espírito Santo’s concerns over the Forest squad dominated the buildup to the opening day, with work still to do in the transfer window this month.

However, positivity came before the game as Omari Hutchinson was announced by Forest, shortly followed by James McAtee’s arrival at Forest, who were both unveiled to the fans before kickoff.

The entertainment was all on the pitch, though, so here are five things we learned from Nottingham Forest’s emphatic 3-1 victory over Brentford.

Five things we learned from Nottingham Forest vs Brentford

Nuno’s new style of play

After a difficult end to the season, the Forest squad knew they’d have to change their style to not solely rely on counterattacking, something that was clearly on show against Brentford.

Forest were immediately pressing Brentford when they lost the ball, led by the energetic pair of Elliot Anderson and Ibrahim Sangare in midfield, who dominated the centre of the park.

Even the wide players chipped in, with the physicality of Dan Ndoye especially helping the Reds keep Brentford off the ball, a show of dominance that Espírito Santo can build upon.

Morgan Gibbs-White means business this season

The 25/26 campaign is crucial to many in the Forest squad, but given his aims to become a regular fixture in the England set-up, Morgan Gibbs-White will know he needs to perform.

He got off to the perfect start against Brentford, producing a stunning cross for Ndoye’s debut goal while being at the centre of all of the Reds’ positive build-up from attacking midfield.

Gibbs-White became Forest’s highest-paid player when he signed his new contract, and against Brentford, he showed that he is worth every penny of it.

Never doubt Chris Wood

He’ll turn 34 in December, but on that showing, Chris Wood is set for another season of goalscoring brilliance in the Garibaldi red.

Wood’s first was a show of his undeniable instincts, while his second highlighted that he still has the burst of pace to cause Premier League defenders problems, with the finish at the end of it never in doubt.

Of course, this season comes with more competition with Forest signing Igor Jesus and Araud Kalimuendo on the way, too, but the new boys will have some task on their hands to get past the Kiwi international, who looks set for another remarkable campaign.

Where Dan Ndoye differs from Anthony Elanga

Anthony Elanga signed for Newcastle United early in the transfer window, with the Reds swooping in to sign the Swiss star Ndoye as his replacement.

Clearly, a goal on debut shows that he looks to be a reasonable alternative, but the goal itself showed that Ndoye will offer a different type of attacking threat to Elanga.

The 24-year-old outmuscled Rico Henry in the box to head home emphatically for the Reds’ second of the game, highlighting that the six-foot-tall winger can provide a level of physicality for Forest out wide, offsetting the slight drop off in pace from the departing Elanga.

New signings will have to earn their place

The starting XI was a familiar one for Forest fans, with Ndoye slotting in for Elanga in the same formation that worked so effectively last season.

There were brilliant displays all over the pitch, so the likes of Hutchinson and McAtee may have to wait for their chance to nail down a spot in Nuno’s squad.

Even Douglas Luiz with his Premier League experience will have to earn a spot, as the existing squad showed that last season’s seventh-place finish was no fluke.