Premier League pundit Paul Merson predicts that Nottingham Forest won't make it back-to-back home wins against Brentford this weekend.
The Reds beat Liverpool last time out Trentside but followed that 1-0 win with a 5-0 reversal away against Arsenal last weekend, which leaves them last in the Premier League table. Steve Cooper 's side could realistically move as high as 18th and level on points with a trio of teams outside of the relegation zone should they beat Brentford and results elsewhere go in their favour.
This weekend's visitors have picked up just three points away from home all season - drawing three and losing the other three - and have won just one of their last seven matches wherever they were played. In Merson 's words, the timing means that "Forest have got to try and win" this one, but the former Arsenal player-turned-pundit doesn't think that they will pick up all three points.
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"Nottingham Forest were great against Liverpool," Merson's predictions for Sportskeeda state, "but they were given a reality check by Arsenal. That's going to be their season - I don't think they're going to start winning four matches on the trot. They've got to take the rough with the smooth. If their players can cope with that, they might be all right.
"Brentford are struggling at the moment, and they can't seem to win a game. They played well against Chelsea but didn't win, and they were out of the game from the start against Aston Villa. With the timing of this match and the way Brentford are playing, Forest have got to try and win.
"Nottingham Forest have every chance to win this game. There were no expectations against Liverpool, and this match will be different. I think this game will end in a draw, and that doesn't really help either team." Merson predicts a 1-1 score draw.
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