Brentford 0-2 Nottingham Forest: Ola Aina and Anthony Elanga score as Nuno Espirito Santo's side move up to third place

Anthony Elanga celebrated his return to Nottingham Forest’s starting line-up by helping inflict a first home defeat of the season on Brentford.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s away-day specialists cemented their unlikely place in the Premier League’s top four by scoring either side of half-time through Ola Eina and Elanga.

The former Manchester United winger had been a substitute in his side’s previous two matches but won his place back after grabbing the winner off the bench against Aston Villa a week ago.

Only Chelsea have now won more points on their travels this season than Forest’s 17.

Brentford had never previously been beaten by Forest in the Premier League and they dominated the opening half-hour.

Mikkel Damsgaard forced Matz Sels to tip around the post, Kristoffer Ajer was close with a header and Yoane Wissa twisted sharply before sending a lob onto the roof of the net.

Elanga scored in the early stages of the second half, with Forest taking all three points

Ola Aina had given Forest the lead against Brentford when he scored in the 38th minute

Forest defender Murillo was booked for a late challenge on Wissa as his side came under pressure with fans inside the Gtech calling for a red.

The visitors, who started the day fourth and have won at Liverpool and Manchester United, roused themselves to manufacture their first big chance after 32 minutes.

In-form Chris Wood got good contact to Elliot Anderson’s cross but Mark Flekken reacted well to stop the header with his left hand at point-blank range.

Encouraged, the visitors then struck to take the lead with both full-backs involved.

The begloved Neco Williams reached the byline and when he fired in a low cross Wood distracted Ben Mee at the near post for right-back Ola Aina to fire home from 12 yards.

On the touchline, Nuno Espirito Santo gave a fistpump to celebrate Aina’s first away goal for Forest.

Given Brentford had come back from conceding the opening goal to win on three separate occasions this season, Forest would have felt they needed a second – and it duly arrived after 51 minutes.

Makeshift left-back Keane Lewis-Potter took a poor touch trying to control the ball deep in his own half, and Elanga didn’t need a second invitation to seize on the chance, cut inside and drill low left-footed into Flekken’s bottom corner.

Elanga was denied by Flekken’s save to make it 3-0 but at the other end Bees fought hard to keep their unbeaten home record alive.

Murillo was his usual formidable self at the heart of the defence heading everything that was thrown into the box. When he couldn’t defend and Kristoffer Ajer smashed in an effort goalwards from eight yards, Sels made a brilliant reflex stop with his face after the ball bounced just in front of him.

It was also a painful ending for Bees Mads Roerslev who was badly cut above the eye after being caught by a stray elbow from Forest sub Taiwo Awoniyi who had just come on and was tussling for the ball.