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Brentford logo
Championship | Gameweek 38
Mar 20, 2021 at 12.30pm UK
Griffin Park
Nottingham Forest logo

Brentford
1 - 1
Nott'm Forest

Toney (12' pen.)
Janelt (26'), Dalsgaard (35'), Marcondes (90')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Krovinovic (63')
Mighten (25'), Cafu (67'), Ameobi (78'), Figueiredo (90')

Thomas Frank remains positive after Nottingham Forest stalemate

Thomas Frank remains positive after Nottingham Forest stalemate
© Reuters
Ivan Toney's early penalty was cancelled out by Filip Krovinovic just after the hour.

Brentford boss Thomas Frank blamed wasted chances for ruining an otherwise "spotless" performance as his side were held to a 1-1 home draw by Championship strugglers Nottingham Forest.

Ivan Toney's early penalty, his 28th goal of the season, was not enough for the promotion-chasing Bees as Filip Krovinovic levelled just after the hour to earn Forest a share of the spoils.

But Frank remained upbeat despite seeing his side drop four points in the last two games against sides in the bottom half of the table.

"If you look at the 90 minutes it's more or less a spotless performance. If look at the numbers, how big the chances were and how we played, it's a 4-1 win so that is what we will take away from this game," said the Dane.

"In the first half we were completely on top, created chances and gave nothing away. In the second we learned from the Derby game, came out strong and wanted to press forward to get the second."

Forest's equaliser from their only shot on target came after what Frank insisted was a clear foul in the build-up, and the Bees' lack of fortune in the other box summed up a frustrating afternoon.

Frank said: "After a game like that where things haven't quite dropped for us, it is important to look at the performance, stay calm and 100 per cent if we play like this nine times more we win nine times."

Frank refused to be drawn on whether a top-two finish was still in his sights, insisting: "The experience of last season will help us in the run-in, but we will be focusing on the next game and nothing else."

Forest boss Chris Hughton praised the character and work-rate of his players following the match, and said their desire to "show both sides of the game" was behind their hard-earned point in west London.

"You can't be successful and come and play against better teams without showing both sides of the game and the boys worked as hard off the ball as they did on it," he said.

"I was pleased, particularly after conceding as early as we did against a very good side. But the reaction was really good.

"They threatened to start with, but for 90 minutes our shape was good and we had a lot of possession. Overall I'm pleased with a point and it was very much deserved.

"Brentford have real quality, they are a class act and they will be pushing all the way for that automatic spot. If they're able to take it, they have enough quality to make it through the play-offs."

Regarding Brentford's penalty, Hughton felt the decision against Gaetan Bong after he brought down Toney in the box, was "soft".

"There is tugging and you see it in so many games. Some refs choose not to give that so it is a soft one," said the Forest boss, who also felt Bees keeper David Raya was fortunate not to see red for handling the ball outside his box.

"It was a clear, clear red so he got that one wrong," he added.

Looking ahead, Hughton hinted there will be a "summer of change" as players nearing the end of their contracts leave, allowing him to rebuild.

He said: "First we have the international break and it's a good opportunity for players to get some rest and recovery and then we can do some good work this week and the following week. We have a few away but not too many."

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256


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