Nottm Forest 2 Brentford 3

Brentford survived a late Forest comeback to take the three points home from the City Ground this evening.

The visitors, with skipper Harlee Dean back in the side, were in cruise control at 3-0 up with eight minutes to go through a Lasse Vibe brace and a Jota strike.

And although they did their best to keep their fans' hearts ticking over by conceding twice in the closing stages, the Bees held on to secure a memorable win.

Sergi Canos started the game like a man possessed – first putting in Vibe with a lovely through ball, from which the Dane drew a save from home keeper Jordan Smith.

Canos then went close twice himself, making Smith scramble to save with a speculative effort from 30 yards out, before firing just wide after going on a mazy dribble.

But it was Brentford's other Spanish wizard, Jota,who helped break the deadlock on 17 minutes with a delightful shimmy to take a Forest defender out of the game, before an equally brilliant return pass put in Vibe, who had time to pick his spot and smash the ball home.

Forest had some good spells of pressure without reallt testing Dan Bentley, apart from a good effort from Britt Assombalonga, which brought out a good save from the Bees keeper.

Brentford were playing some good stuff though, and Vibe almost scored a spectacular second when a hospital clearance from Smith fell invitingly for the Dane, but his shot back in rippled the side netting.

The Bees led at the break, but Forest were quick out of the blocks in the second half, with Ben Osborn testing Bentley following a lovely jinking run, before the Bees keeper saved the rebound from Jamie Ward too.

But 10 minutes in the Bees had doubled their lead, breaking from a Forest attacl first through Rico Henry, then Canos, who beat two men in a 60 yard dribble before squaring for Vibe to delicately chip Smith for his second of the game.

With 20 minutes left, Vibe turned provider, laying on a chipped pass after Brentford played the ball out of defence superbly for Jota, who cut inside onto his favoured left foot and gave Smith no chance with a low shot into the near corner of the net.

Forest pulled one back eight minutes from time when the Bees were caught napping in defence, and although Bentley saved the initial shot he couldn't hold it and Ben Brereton was left with a tap in.

Bentley held on tightly to the next effort, a long-ranger from Matty Cash, before the same player drove an effort inches wide just as the four additional minutes were announced.

Zac Clough pulled another back from close range going into the last minute of the four, following some more slack Bees defending at the back post, but Dean Smith's men held out to take the points.