Brentford 3-2 Nottingham Forest: Ivan Toney scores on return from ban as Neal Maupay nets winner for Bees

Ivan Toney scored on his return from an eight-month betting ban as Brentford beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 in a five-goal thriller at the Gtech Community Stadium.

The spotlight was fully focused on the Bees striker as he captained the hosts following his long-term absence, but it was the visitors who struck first on three minutes.

Danilo took down a dropping ball with his left thigh and then volleyed a sensational 25-yard shot into the corner with his right.

Brentford were stuck in neutral and needed some inspiration and it was inevitably Toney who provided it with a low 20-yard free-kick on 19 minutes.

Ben Mee then put the home side in front just shy of the hour with a header from a left-wing corner, but Chris Wood levelled for Forest seven minutes later as he made it six goals in his last six matches with a fine header.

Brentford continued to offer the greater threat in an end-to-end encounter and Neal Maupay restored their lead with a wonderful swivel and low finish 22 minutes from time.

The result sees Brentford climb above Nottingham Forest into 14th place, six points clear of the drop zone.

Forest drop to 16th two points further back and having played a game more.

Next up, Forest are in FA Cup fourth-round action at Bristol City on Friday night before hosting Arsenal in the Premier League the following Tuesday. Brentford visit Tottenham in the league on January 31.

Toney had made it clear he expected to deliver on his return to action and he lived up to his own hype with an excellent display leading the line, capping it with a clever free-kick after Forest made a mess forming their wall.

In a fun quirk of fate, his last Premier League goal was 266 days ago when he also scored a free-kick – against none other than Nottingham Forest.

This was a good start to his comeback and it comes at an important time for a Brentford side who were desperate to avoid losing a sixth league match on the spin. Such poor form has seen The Bees drop down the table but with an in-form Toney likely to stick around despite links with a move this January, confidence will be high he can score the goals and be the big-player presence to ensure they start moving back in the right direction again.

Interestingly, England assistant boss Steve Holland was in the stands to watch the contest and if Toney continues to deliver for his club in the months ahead, a place back in the England squad ahead of Euro 2024 is certainly on the cards.

There were players who were more involved on both sides, but Toney’s contribution to his club’s first league win since December 2, cannot be underestimated. His goal came at a point when Forest were well on top and his overall presence gave a Bees squad lacking confidence the lift they needed ahead of a tough run of fixtures that will see them play Spurs (a), Man City twice and Liverpool (H) in four of their next five PL games.

BRENTFORD: Flekken 6, Pinnock 7, Roerslev 7, Collins 7, Mee 8, Jensen 7, Janelt 7, Damsgaard 7, Lewis-Potter 6, Maupay 7, Toney 8*. Subs: Baptiste 6, Reguilon 6, Dasilva n/a, Ajer n/a, Yarmoliuk n/a.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST: Turner 6, Tavares 7, Murrilo 7, Omobamidele 7, Montiel 7, Danilo 8, Mangala 7, Hudson-Odoi 6, Yates 7, Dominguez 7, Wood 7. Subs: Williams 6, Aguilera n/a.

03’ – GOAL! – Brentford 0-1 Nottingham Forest: (Danilo). Brentford make a real mess clearing a high ball on the edge of their area on two occasions, allowing Danilo to collect with his knee and then rifle a 25-yard volley into the corner.

19’ – GOAL! – Brentford 1-1 Nottingham Forest: (Toney). Toney steps up and curls a wonderful 20-yard free kick into the bottom right-hand corner. It just had to be him!

58’ – GOAL! – Brentford 2-1 Nottingham Forest: (Mee). Ben Mee darts ahead of his marker to power a header home at the near post from a left-wing corner.

65’ – GOAL! – Brentford 2-2 Nottingham Forest: (Wood). Wood makes a sharp move inside the area to meet a left-wing cross and flick a brilliant header into the corner.

68’ – GOAL! – Brentford 3-2 Nottingham Forest: (Maupay). What a finish! Maupay kills a cross from the right, spins and rifles a low shot into the far corner.

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