Brentford vs Nottingham Forest. Sky Bet Championship.
Griffin ParkAttendance10,186.
Friday 31 August 2018 11:29, UK
Chris Mepham will be fit for Brentford when they host Nottingham Forest.
The highly-rated centre-half had to go off during the midweek Carabao Cup win over Cheltenham after taking a stray elbow to the face, but he has trained since.
Neal Maupay serves the final game of a three-match ban and Emiliano Marcondes has a foot injury. Daniel Bentley, Sergi Canos, Ollie Watkins and Romaine Sawyers were among the players rested in midweek who should return.
Forest could be without Sam Byram and Joe Lolley. Both players went off during the cup win over Newcastle on Wednesday night with knee injuries.
Michael Dawson and Lewis Grabban will be assessed after missing out in midweek. Adlene Guedioura continues his recovery from a fractured cheekbone.
Brentford have won five of their last six league meetings with Nottingham Forest (L1), though their one defeat in this run was in this exact fixture last season, losing 4-3.
Both Brentford and Nottingham Forest have found the net in 12 of the previous 13 league meetings at Griffin Park, with the exception a 1-0 win for Brentford in August 2016.
Nottingham Forest are unbeaten so far this season, although four of their five league games have ended level (W1). This is first time since 2014-15 that the Tricky Trees are unbeaten after their first five Championship games.
Aitor Karanka has won all three of his previous visits to Griffin Park as a manager, with all three coming as Middlesbrough manager in 2014-15 and 2015-16.
Brentford have named the youngest starting XI on average in the Championship this season (23y 362d).
Brentford's Ollie Watkins made his 50th league appearance for the club last time out versus Blackburn - he's had a hand in four goals in five Championship games this season (three goals, one assist).
David Prutton predicts: 2-1 (7/1 with Sky Bet)
