Fixtures between Brentford and Nottingham Forest are scarce to say the least, with just five meetings between the two since the early 1950s.
The lack of common ground between the sides may illustrate the change in fortunes the teams have had over the last few generations, with the Bees on a steady upward curve and Forest nowhere near their championing European exploits of the late 1970s.
Brentford fans may fondly remember a closely fought tie between the sides in September 2005 when both teams were pushing for promotion from League One.
Martin Allen’s side visited the City Ground in excellent early season form but knew they faced a stern test against a Forest outfit who had only been relegated from the Championship the season before.
Forest boasted the likes of future Premier League players Grant Holt and Wes Morgan in their ranks, whilst Celtic’s current star man Kris Commons was beginning to make a name for himself at the City Ground.
The Bees also had a few star names in their travelling squad, with Michael Turner marshalling the defence and Darren Pratley on loan from Fulham to bolster their attacking options.
Indeed it was Allen’s side that made the better start, dominating the opening half and showcasing the form that had ensured they had hit the ground running in the early parts of the season.
Their pressure told and the breakthrough, when it did come, came via a rare source. Jay Tabb, who has since gone onto play for Reading in the top flight, crossed from the right for the on-running Andy Frampton to tuck away the opener after making a late surge from left back.
The Bees went in at half time with a deserved lead, but their advantage didn’t last long as the hosts made a quick start to the second period. Forest winger Nicky Southall found room on the right, crossing for Andy Thompson to head emphatically past Stuart Nelson to draw the home side level.
The contest now hung in the balance and it made for a frantic encounter. Nelson brilliantly denied David Johnson and Thompson hit the bar, whilst Tabb also went close for the visitors.
It was the away side, however, who struck the decisive blow. Pratley, who had spent the last part of the previous season on loan at Griffin Park, marked the first match of his second loan spell with a brilliant winner.
The gangly midfielder collected a pass from 18-year-old substitute Ryan Peters before rifling past Paul Gerrard in the Forest goal with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Brentford held on for a highly impressive away result, with Pratley’s winner enough to elevate the Bees back to the top of the fledgling League One table.
The season would ultimately end in disappointment for both sides, with the Bees finishing 3rd but falling in the playoffs and Forest placing agonisingly just outside of the top six.
Follow all the build-up, match action and post-game reaction to Nottingham Forest v Brentford right here on GetWestLondon.
