Nottingham Forest got their Premier League campaign up and running in style with a commanding 3-1 win over Brentford at the City Ground on Sunday, easing fears over their summer transfer activity.
Chris Wood was the star of the show once again, picking up where he left off last season by netting a first-half brace.
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His clinical finishing, aided by a sublime through ball from Anderson for his second, underlined Forest’s sharpness in front of goal.
New signing Ndoye also made an instant impact, rising to head home from a superb Morgan Gibbs-White delivery to give Nuno Espírito Santo’s side a 3-0 lead before the break.
Forest’s dominance was reflected in their 1.86 expected goals, with Anderson orchestrating play brilliantly from midfield in what was a man-of-the-match performance.
Brentford, meanwhile, struggled to find any real attacking rhythm and looked flat for much of the contest.
Their late consolation came via Thiago’s penalty after Ibrahim Sangare was penalized for handball, but their 1.50 expected goal figure flattered what was otherwise a toothless display.
The result will come as a relief for Forest fans, who had been concerned about squad depth after a modest transfer window, but Nuno’s men looked well-drilled and ruthless against a side expected to be battling relegation.
For Brentford boss Andrews, however, the questions are piling up. With his side still searching for a cutting edge, survival could be a long, hard fight this season.
Next up, Brentford welcome Aston Villa to the Gtech Community Stadium, while Forest head to the capital to take on Crystal Palace in what promises to be a fascinating clash.
