Dyche 'Buzzing' as Awoniyi's Emotional Goal Seals Forest Win at Brentford
Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche admitted his side were "absolutely buzzing" for striker Taiwo Awoniyi after his goal wrapped up a priceless 2-0 Premier League victory at Brentford on Sunday. The win eased Forest's relegation fears, restoring their five-point cushion over 18th-placed West Ham.
Awoniyi's Triumphant Return from Injury
The 28-year-old forward, who came on as a substitute, scored his first goal since undergoing emergency abdominal surgery in May. The injury occurred after he collided with a post during a match against Leicester City. Awoniyi's return to scoring form was both a fabulous and emotional moment for the player and his team.
Dyche praised Awoniyi's resilience, saying, "He works hard for us and he's trained well. Funnily enough, I chatted with him last week and reminded him to be free, and he looked free when he came on." The manager added, "It was a very good finish. He's been knocking on the door, he's been working hard for the team and he gets a reward with a really good bit of play and a really fine finish."
How the Goal Unfolded
Forest were hanging on to Igor Jesus' first-half opener when Awoniyi chased Morgan Gibbs-White's long ball down the line. The striker outmuscled Sepp Van Den Berg, raced towards goal, stepped inside Michael Kayode's last-ditch sliding tackle, and slipped the ball beyond goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. Dyche noted Awoniyi's recent improvement, stating, "He had a bit of a soft spell a couple of weeks ago and then he's come out of it the last week. He's looked sharper and come back to life, let's say."
Jesus' Early Strike Sets the Tone
Earlier in the match, Igor Jesus upstaged his fellow Brazilian striker Igor Thiago with just his second Premier League goal this term. After 12 minutes, Jesus controlled Ola Aina's cross with his chest, held off Bees defender Nathan Collins, and lashed a superb volley past Kelleher. This was a significant moment for Jesus, who came into the match having scored just once from 40 shots, giving him the worst conversion rate in the division.
In contrast, Brentford's Thiago has been one of the revelations of the season, with 16 Premier League goals putting him behind only Erling Haaland in the scoring charts. However, his efforts were not enough to secure a result for the home side.
Brentford's Frustration and Forest's Relief
The victory was crucial for Forest, who moved further away from the relegation zone. For Brentford, the defeat was a missed opportunity, as they could have climbed into the top five with a win. Instead, they slipped to only their second home defeat of the campaign.
Brentford boss Keith Andrews expressed his frustration, saying, "Really frustrating, is the honest answer. We can't be content with a good performance, we have to be ruthless. They had two shots on target and scored." He emphasised the need for improvement, adding, "We can't just pat ourselves on the back and say, 'Haven't we done well the last few weeks?'. We need to evolve as a team and solve those problems."
Dyche reflected on Awoniyi's journey, noting, "I know it was very serious. But just generally, get on with it, just come and enjoy yourself." The manager's confidence in the striker was evident, as he said, "I had absolutely no doubt in putting him on. I thought, 'Yeah, absolutely, go and play'." This win not only boosted Forest's survival hopes but also marked a heartwarming comeback for Awoniyi after a challenging period.
