Wood's 45-Minute Clinic Exposes Brentford's Opening-Day Fragility

À Voir Score Futmetrix: 59/100. Chris Wood dismantled Brentford's backline before halftime, but Forest's dominance masked a toothless second half.

When Early Pressure Becomes Suffocation

Nottingham Forest didn't ease into this. Wood struck in the fifth minute—a statement of intent that set the Intensity dial to maximum before Brentford could settle. By the 42nd minute, Dan Ndoye had doubled the advantage, and Wood's second goal at 45 minutes felt like a foregone conclusion rather than a twist. Three goals in 40 minutes. The Balance never shifted: Brentford trailed from whistle to final whistle, their only response a 78th-minute penalty from Ismail Thiago that arrived too late to matter.

Forest controlled 55% possession and 11 shots to Brentford's 10, but the narrative was written early. The Stakes were modest—both teams hunting rhythm after a single match—yet the contrast in execution was stark. Brentford's 15 fouls betrayed frustration; they were chasing shadows. Forest's 83% pass accuracy (404 total) versus Brentford's 78% (330) tells the story of a team that knew where the ball was going versus one desperately trying to find it.

The second half? A formality. With the match decided, Forest retreated into cruise control. No late drama. No momentum swings. No moment where you held your breath. Brentford huffed and puffed but never threatened the narrative. Ten corners combined generated zero anxiety. The penalty was a consolation, not a comeback.

Wood's 9.3 rating wasn't just about the two goals—it was the timing, the positioning, the ruthlessness. He exposed gaps that shouldn't have existed at this level. Ndoye's movement complemented the chaos perfectly. But once the scoreline settled at 3-0, the match became an exhibition rather than a contest.