MATCH FACTS

THE OPPOSITION

Last season's ninth-placed finish was the closest Nottingham Forest have come in six years to ending their 20-year exile from the top flight and they have started this term brightly too.

Not much was known on these shores about new manager Sabri Lamouchi when he arrived in late June, but seven wins from his first 13 matches in charge have quickly won the City Ground faithful round. Forest's only league defeat came on the opening day at home to West Bromwich Albion and since then they've taken seven points from a possible nine on home soil. Progress in the Carabao Cup was ended last month at The Emirates against Arsenal in Round Three.

Lewis Grabban netted 17 times for Forest last time round and he has five in ten league games at the start of this term. However, it's at the other end where Forest have been most impressive thus far. Summer arrival from Caen, goalkeeper Brice Samba, has earned rave reviews in his early appearances, conceding just five goals in eight games.

Other summer arrivals were Tiago Silva [Feirense], Yuri Ribeiro [Benfica], Albert Adomah [Aston Villa], Samba Sow [Dinamo Moscow], Carl Jenkinson [Arsenal], and Chema [Levante] while Arijanet Muric [Manchester City], John Bostock [Toulouse], Alfa Semedo [Benfica], and Rafa Mir [Wolves] arrived on loan.

THE MANAGER

Sabri Lamouchi enjoyed a stellar playing career in his native France, Italy, and then Qatar, before retiring in 2009. Capped 12 times at international level, the midfielder was named in the initial 28-man squad for the 1998 World Cup, which Les Bleus would go on to win. He won the French League and Cup double with Auxerre in 1996, a further Ligue 1 title in 2000 with Monaco, and the Coppa Italia at Parma in 2002.

His first steps in management were taken with the Ivory Coast National Team. He won seven of his 14 matches in charge but resigned after The Elephants were knocked out in the group stages of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He would then spend two-and-a-half years with El Jaish in Qatar, winning the 2016 Qatar Crown Prince Cup. Next up was a 13-month spell with Rennes which saw qualification for last season's Europa League before he arrived on the banks of the River Trent in June.

TEAM NEWS

Thomas Frank may look to freshen things up as we prepare for a third game in six days. Only Mads Bech Sorensen and Luka Racic are injury doubts with the rest of the squad available for the trip to the East Midlands.

Forest's absentee list is a little more extensive with Yohan Benalouane (Back), Michael Hefele (Achilles), Tendayi Darikwa (Knee), Carl Jenkinson (Ankle), Ryan Yates (Knee) and Michael Dawson (Calf) all definitely out. Rafa Mir and Alfa Semedo both also face a race against time to be fit.

THOMAS PRE-MATCH

PRE-MATCH BUILD UP

🆚 Hot off the Press: Paul Taylor looks ahead to the action

LAST MEETING

TICKET INFO

Tickets will be available to purchase from the Brian Clough Away Ticket Office, situated at the rear of the Brian Clough Stand and about 100 yards from the away turnstiles.

The Club will be trialling cashless payment in-stadia this weekend, so all food/drink within the concourse kiosks should be paid for using debit/credit card.

HOW TO FOLLOW

iFollow Brentford will be live from 2.30pm with Mark Burridge, Mick Cabble, and Ciaran Brett bringing commentary of game against City.

iFollow | Domestic (UK, Ireland, Isle of Man)

iFollow | International (other countries worldwide)

Download the Official Brentford FC App to get notifications direct to your phone, plus all the latest news, views and reaction from the game. Visit the Play Store or iTunes App Store now to download.