Nottingham Forest kicked off their Premier League campaign with a bang on Sunday, securing a 3-1 win over Brentford at the City Ground.
But the celebrations weren’t without a little drama off the pitch, as assistant coach Rui Barbosa ended up needing six stitches after an over-enthusiastic reaction to the team’s first goal.
Early Goal Sparks Dugout Mayhem
The home side didn’t waste any time making a statement.
Within just five minutes, striker Chris Wood pounced on a loose ball in the box to give Forest an early lead.
The goal sent the dugout into a frenzy, and in the excitement, Barbosa accidentally banged his head, leaving him with a nasty cut.
Quick Medical Attention for Barbosa
Forest’s medical team rushed to tend to Barbosa’s wound, stitching him up on the spot.
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo described the incident after the game, saying, “He has six stitches! It was a nasty one.
A bad one. He was dizzy.” Despite the injury, the assistant coach’s mishap didn’t overshadow the team’s strong performance.
Forest Dominates with Clinical Finishing
The goals kept coming for the home side. Dan Ndoye extended the lead with a precise header, and Chris Wood added a second just before half-time with a clinical finish.
Brentford managed a consolation goal when Igor Thiago converted a penalty, but it wasn’t enough to shift the momentum.
Manager Praises Team Performance
After the match, Espirito Santo was full of praise for his squad, highlighting their energy and control.
“I am delighted. The way we started the game was amazing. We played well, we dominated, we controlled.
The goal in the first five minutes settled the team and the energy of the stadium.
With the exception of a moment before the third goal, we did not allow Brentford too many things.”
A Memorable Start to the Season
For Forest, it was the perfect way to launch the new campaign—a convincing win, standout performances from key players, and even a little off-field drama to keep fans talking.
The City Ground left buzzing, and the team looks ready to build on this strong start.
