Premier League LIVE: Nottingham Forest look for huge a win at Brentford to ease their relegation fears, while Brighton continue push for a Europa League spot at home to Wolves
Follow Mail Sport’s live blog for Brentford vs Nottingham Forest and Brighton vs Wolves in two crunch Premier League clashes.
Host commentator
Brighton take the lead early on! However, they are checking to see whether it will be ruled out for offside or not… we will keep you updated.
It was Undav who scored the goal after coming back from that early knock.
3mins: Semedo and Undav have both gone down injured after colliding with each other. Hopefully it’s nothing too serious – especially this early on!
2mins: Brighton turn over the ball inside their own half after experiencing some pressure from Wolves. However, Lemina couldn’t quite find the connection he needed.
1min: Good start from Wolves, they look confident in their approach. They are press high and looking to win the ball in the end third and counter quickly.
We we’re off! It is Brighton who get us underway at the Amex.
Brighton: Steele, Veltman, Dunk, Webster, Estupinan, Gilmour, Gross, March, Enciso, Welbeck, Undav.
Subs: Sanchez, Colwill, Mac Allister, Mitoma, Caicedo, Ayari, Van Hecke, Bounanotte, Offiah.
Wolves: Sa, Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Bueno, Lemina, Nunes, Neves, Neto, Costa, Gomes.
Subs: Bentley, Collins, Podence, Hwang, Cunha, Sarabia, Toti, Moutinho, Traore
The teams are out and the sun is shinning. We are just moments away from kick-off. Make sure you stay tuned!
😁 @RyanYates97 pic.twitter.com/xsl30k5Qxa
🔙 in the XI today.
Go well, @pedrolneto7! 💪 pic.twitter.com/gzqyrg3UUY
Counting down to kick-off… ⏳ pic.twitter.com/QW0u3t3F1T
‘I was torn between Wolverhampton and another offer I had on the table,’ Gomes said ahead of the game today.
‘The campaign was one of the things that made me stop and reflect on what to do and really weighed my final decision.
‘Everyone who has supported me offered all the love I needed for me to come and play to the best of my ability, which is what really matters.
‘It has always been a dream and a wish come true to play in the Premier League but the people who have welcomed me here made all the difference.
‘Matheus Cunha, Diego Costa, Matheus Nunes and Toti have given all the support I needed. There have been times when Cunha rang me to hang out at his place because I was on my own, so I definitely think they have helped with my adaptation and to perform better. I need to work harder and harder to help Wolves to become a threat.’
Brentford manager Thomas Frank is full of praise for Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper in today’s programme notes.
He said: ‘When Steve took the job in September 2021, Forest were bottom of the Championship. To lead them to promotion through the Play-Offs, the hardest way – was a remarkable achievement. He and his staff have done a fantastic job there.
‘Steve’s sides are always very difficult to beat – we also saw that during his time at Swansea – so we must perform very well today.’
Not long until this afternoon’s fixtures get underway. We are about 25 minutes out. The sun is shinning. What a day for football…
Arriving for #BRENFO 👋 pic.twitter.com/25dHyTxMUM
Arriving at the AMEX.
🐺👋 pic.twitter.com/pYtQMLrdY7
Afternoon, Albion! 👋 #BHAFC pic.twitter.com/C6CNiBLvvu
Team News coming up in 🖐
Who would you pick if you were Thomas Frank this afternoon? 🤔#BREFOR | #BrentfordFC pic.twitter.com/2CASA1h8yV
Wolves starting XI: Sa, Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Bueno, Lemina, Nunes, Neves, Neto, Costa, Gomes.
Substitutes: Bentley, Collins, Podence, Hwang, Cunha, Sarabia, Toti, Moutinho, Traore.
✌️ changes
➡️ Neto and J. Gomes start
How we line-up to face @OfficialBHAFC.
🐺📋 @AstroPay_OK pic.twitter.com/kGB3qrDNYs
Brighton starting XI: Steele; Veltman, Dunk, Webster, Estupinan; Gilmour, Gross, March, Enciso, Undav, Welbeck
Substitutes: Sanchez, Colwill, Mac Allister, Mitoma, Caicedo, Ayari, Van Hecke, Buonanotte, Offiah
Come on Albion! 💪 Here's our starting XI to face @Wolves today. 📝
📲 https://t.co/S3j1TIeLz3 // #BHAFC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/BCpPCF0WuL
Nottingham Forest starting XI: Navas; Aurier, Worrall, Niakhate, Felipe, Lodi; Mangala, Danilo, Gibbs-White; Johnson, Awoniyi
Substitutes: Hennessy, Lingard, Toffolo, Surridge, Kouyate, Yates, Freuler, Dennis, Ayew
☝️ One change from #NFOBHA.
🇸🇳 Moussa starts in defence.
💪 Yatesy returns to the squad.
How #NFFC line up for #BRENFO 📋 pic.twitter.com/bqjjnWCVv6
Brentford starting XI: Raya; Hickey, Pinnock, Mee, Henry; Jensen, Janelt, Damsgaard; Mbeumo, Toney, Schade
Substitutes: Cox, Dasilva, Wissa, Zanka, Ghoddos, Onyeka, Baptiste, Roerslev, Stevens
🐝 Your Bees to take on Nottingham Forest#BREFOR | #BrentfordFC | @BlueJeansNet pic.twitter.com/1B3awqBcbf
Brentford are hard to break down at home. Brentford’s only two league defeats at home this season came against Arsenal in September and Newcastle United on 8 April.
Nottingham Forest have only won three of their 16 away league matches against Brentford, although two of those came in their past four visits. So, it’s safe to say Nottingham Forest go into the game with the upper hand.
He said: ‘I am pretty confident about this one because Brentford seem to have got over their little blip in form.
‘I didn’t see Nottingham Forest’s midweek win over Brighton coming but that was at the City Ground, where they have picked up 24 of their 30 points this season.
‘Steve Cooper’s side put up a fight in their last away game, at Anfield, but their record on the road is awful.’
This will be Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui’s 200th top-flight match in charge across spells in Portugal, Spain, and England. Pretty good milestone to reach…
However, Wolves are on a good run. They have won three of their last four Premier League games (L1), not conceding a goal in any of these victories. Not bad…
Meanwhile… Wolves struggle on the road. They haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last 13 Premier League away games. Their last clean sheet came in a goalless draw at Bournemouth in August.
Brighton have scored at least three goals in five different Premier League home games this season. It doesn’t scream ‘goal scoring streak’ but it is impressive for Brighton as that means they scored the same as they’d managed in the previous two campaigns combined.
He said: ‘We deserved to lose the game, we played well for the first 35 minutes in the first half and then we lost energy.
‘We didn’t change too many players from Wembley. We knew it was a very tough game, but we could have scored more goals in that 35 minutes, and then we lost the spirit and energy.
‘It’s a difficult period for us because we are not used to playing three games in a week. We have to use it because we will play eight games and we have to fight to reach our target.
‘For sure, I am honest, and I don’t want to speak in this way when we lose the game. I am proud of my players today [even] when we lost the game.’
He said: ‘No, we have to work a lot for our aim and for sure get more points. I am happy, of course, and it’s an important victory, but we have to continue working and trying to get more points.
‘It has been a very hard match and we played against a very good, very strong team. They have played the last matches at a very high level, and that’s why I highlight the effort and victory today.’
There is no doubt both sides will be looking to collect all three points today. But, how has the advantage heading into the game? Well, Brighton have played against Wolves on 39 times and hold the upper hand when you look at the result.
The Seagulls have won 17, drawn 14, and lost eight.
He said: ‘I fear for Brighton a little bit, and whether fatigue could start kicking in during their run-in, but it would be a shame if they blew up now after the season they have had, and I don’t think it will.
‘Wolves are all but safe after winning three of their past four games so it is almost job done for their manager Julen Lopetegui.
‘They will make it difficult for Brighton too but I still think the Seagulls are an excellent team and we will see a response from them after a difficult week.’
Hello and welcome to Mail Sport’s live coverage of today’s 3pm games. We will be bringing you all the latest news and updates, as well as, the minute by minute cover of r Brentford vs Nottingham Forest and Brighton vs Wolves. Make sure you stay tuned!
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