Nottingham Forest have staggered through their 2025 pre-season without tasting victory, scoring just one goal across seven friendlies.
While defensive solidity has been a silver lining — five clean sheets in those games — the glaring lack of attacking bite has left the City Ground faithful worried ahead of the Premier League opener against Brentford on Sunday, August 17, 2025.
The headline statistic says it all: a solitary Chris Wood header, scored when already 3-0 down to Fulham, was the only time Forest found the net all summer. For a side looking to progress in England’s top flight, such a return is a flashing red warning light.
Two Games, Two 0-0s: Early Warning Signs
Forest’s pre-season began on July 12 at the SMH Group Stadium, away to League Two side Chesterfield.
Chesterfield 0-0 Nottingham Forest – July 12
On paper, it was a low-risk warm-up. In reality, it set the tone for the summer. With a mix of fringe players and first-team regulars — Ola Aina, Ryan Yates, Jota Silva, and Callum Hudson-Odoi — Forest failed to break down a well-organised lower-league defence. Chesterfield looked sharp early on, pressing high and creating the better first-half openings. Forest’s attacks lacked tempo and penetration, with balls into the box easily cleared.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 AS Monaco – July 19
Back at the SMH Group Stadium, Ligue 1’s Monaco proved a tougher opponent. The French side dominated possession, hit the woodwork twice, and forced Matz Sels into several strong saves. Caio Henrique’s free-kick crashed against the bar, while Saïmon Bouabré and Pape Cabral both narrowly missed. Forest, while solid defensively, created little beyond a long-range effort from Hudson-Odoi that drifted wide.
After two goalless games, some fans began to murmur about the lack of goals — but pre-season optimism kept criticism muted.
Portugal Camp: One Goal, Still No Win
A warm-weather training camp in Portugal followed, offering Nuno Espirito Santo a chance to mix youth and experience.
Fulham 3-1 Nottingham Forest – July 26
Forest’s first defeat came against a fellow Premier League side. Starting with a youthful XI, they struggled against Fulham’s sharper passing and movement. Harry Wilson bagged a brace, Andreas Pereira added another, and only Chris Wood’s 75th-minute header from a Neco Williams cross gave Forest something to show for their efforts. That goal — their only one in pre-season — came far too late to change the game.
Estoril Praia 0-0 Nottingham Forest – July 30
A few days later, Forest faced Primeira Liga outfit Estoril Praia. Youngsters like Jimmy Sinclair impressed with direct running, but finishing again deserted them. It was the third 0-0 in four games — defensive resilience intact, attacking threat absent.
The Trevor Francis Tribute: Birmingham Edge It
August 2 saw Forest travel to Birmingham City for the annual friendly honouring Trevor Francis, the footballing legend who made history with both clubs. The occasion was marked by the unveiling of a statue at St Andrew’s.
Birmingham 1-0 Nottingham Forest – August 2
In a cagey match, Jay Stansfield capitalised on a defensive lapse to score in the 22nd minute. Forest improved after the break, with new signing Dan Ndoye clipping the crossbar, but the equaliser never came.
Final Week Frustration: More Goalless Draws
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Fiorentina – August 5
Facing Serie A side Fiorentina at the City Ground, Forest again struggled to turn possession into goals. The visitors looked dangerous on the counter, with Dodo rattling the crossbar. David De Gea, now in Fiorentina colours, denied Ndoye from close range. Forest’s movement in the final third was laboured, with too many attacks fizzling out before testing the keeper.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Al Qadsiah – August 9
The last pre-season fixture, also at the City Ground, was arguably the most alarming. Against Saudi Arabian opposition, Forest created several clear chances but failed to take any. Igor Jesus sent two headers just wide, and Ryan Yates blazed over from inside the box. Matz Sels was again called upon to save from a corner, underlining that even against theoretically weaker sides, Forest were not dominant.
Fan frustration boiled over online. One supporter wrote on thisisnottingham forums: “One goal in seven is shocking at any level of football. We look flat, disconnected, and out of ideas.”
Why the Goals Have Dried Up
The lack of cutting edge stems from multiple issues:
No Elanga Replacement – The sale of Anthony Elanga has robbed Forest of a pacey wide outlet.
Links in the Sky Transfer Centre suggest Forest are targeting a creative winger, but nothing is confirmed.
Midfield Link-Up – The gap between midfield and attack has been glaring. Yates, Danilo, and Mangala offer work rate and defensive cover but haven’t consistently supplied quality chances.
Forward Isolation – Chris Wood, Taiwo Awoniyi, and Divock Origi have been too often isolated, feeding on hopeful crosses rather than incisive passes.
Tactical Tweaks – Nuno has been experimenting with systems, including a 4-2-3-1 and 3-4-3. While good for flexibility, it’s hindered continuity.
The One Positive: Defensive Solidity
It’s not all doom and gloom. Forest’s defence — led by Murillo, Willy Boly, and reinforced by goalkeeper Matz Sels — has been a consistent bright spot. Five clean sheets in seven games is no small achievement, particularly against sides like Monaco and Fiorentina.
But as the cliché goes: clean sheets are meaningless without goals. Turning draws into wins will be impossible if the attack remains blunt.
Brentford Opener: High Stakes Already
The Nottingham Forest vs Brentford prediction market is already reflecting fan nerves. Forest are at home, but without a convincing attacking performance in pre-season, many see them as underdogs.
The match is set for Sunday, August 17, at the City Ground, where supporters will get their first competitive look at the Nottingham Forest 3rd kit. Those searching for how to watch Forest can expect full broadcast coverage, while demand for Forest tickets remains high despite pre-season form.
Verdict: Pre-Season Doesn’t Lie This Time
Some will say pre-season means nothing. In many cases, that’s true — fitness, tactical work, and avoiding injuries take priority. But Forest’s goal-scoring crisis feels too severe to dismiss as a minor blip.
If the attacking patterns don’t click quickly, and if reinforcements don’t arrive before deadline day, the club could be staring at a sluggish start to the season. The defensive base is there, but the Premier League is a results-driven league. Without goals, draws will become defeats, and patience will wear thin.
The pressure is on Nuno Espirito Santo. The next 90 minutes against Brentford will tell us whether this was just a strange summer… or a sign of trouble ahead.
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