Brentford host Nottingham Forest at Brentford Community Stadium on October 31 in Premier League Regular Season Round 9. By this stage the season is taking shape, and the table shows a clear gap between the sides: Brentford sit sixth and Forest are 18th.

The primary factor is recent league form. Brentford have taken a win, two draws and a loss from their last four league matches. They beat Chelsea 3-0 at home on September 18, drew 2-2 at Aston Villa on October 10, lost 1-2 at home to Liverpool on October 17, and drew 1-1 away to Hull City on October 25. Forest have gone four league matches without a win. They lost to Coventry on September 19, lost 3-1 at Crystal Palace on October 11, and lost 0-1 at home to Arsenal on October 18. They then drew 1-1 at Ipswich on October 23. Their most recent league victory in the data was a 2-1 win at Aston Villa on September 12. Forest have conceded in each of their last five matches, while Brentford have scored in each of theirs.

Head-to-head history adds a second layer. Forest won the last meeting 2-0 at Brentford on January 25, and they have won three of the last four fixtures between the sides. Over the last ten meetings Brentford have four wins, Forest three and three games have been drawn, so the rivalry has been evenly balanced.

Neither side has reported injuries, so both managers, Keith Andrews and Forest's O. Glasner, should have a full squad to choose from. That makes tactical and selection decisions the main variable, and it suggests both teams could field the lineups they used last time out.

Brentford will look to turn solid home credentials into points, while Forest need a result to ease pressure in the lower reaches of the table.