Nottingham Forest strengthened their Premier League survival bid with a gritty away victory over Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Goals from Igor Jesus and Taiwo Awoniyi sealed a vital three points that lifted Forest level with 16th-placed Leeds United and, more importantly, opened a five-point gap above the relegation zone.
Brentford started with intensity and almost struck inside two minutes, but Igor Thiago dragged his effort wide.
Forest punished that early miss in the 12th minute when Igor Jesus produced a moment of quality, controlling the ball on his chest before swivelling and volleying into the far corner beyond Caoimhin Kelleher.
Despite taking the lead, Forest struggled to assert control.
Brentford pushed forward and substitute Sepp van den Berg came close to equalising just before half-time, heading narrowly wide after coming on for the injured Kristoffer Ajer.
The home side dominated possession after the break but lacked cutting edge, failing to test the Forest goalkeeper with a single shot on target.
Igor Thiago came closest late on with a half-volley that drifted wide, as Forest defended with discipline and composure.
Brentford’s frustration was compounded in stoppage time when they were caught on the counter.
Awoniyi used his strength to hold off a defender before calmly finishing through Kelleher’s legs, scoring his first league goal in a year and securing the result.
Brentford have made the Gtech a difficult venue this season, but this performance fell short of their usual standards.
While they showed intent in the first half, their second-half display lacked urgency and creativity, relying heavily on set pieces and long throws.
Thiago’s movement caused problems, but he was often isolated, and injuries to Ajer and Mikkel Damsgaard further disrupted their rhythm.
Despite the setback, Brentford remain eighth in the table, four points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
For Forest, the win was a timely boost after a challenging period.
Under manager Sean Dyche, the team has been searching for consistency, and the impact of their forwards offered hope at a crucial stage of the season.
Igor Jesus’s composed finish underlined his growing confidence, while Awoniyi’s late goal capped an emotional return to the scoresheet after a long absence.
The victory, coming after a difficult Europa League outing, marked Forest’s third game unbeaten and provided renewed belief in their fight for survival.
