Nottingham Forest suffered a huge blow in their push for a return to the Champions League after decades away as Brentford came away from the City Ground with a 2-0 win on Thursday.

A third defeat in four games, courtesy of goals from Kevin Schade and Yoane Wissa, leaves the stumbling two-time European champions outside the Premier League’s top five with just four games remaining.

Liverpool have already won the Premier League and second-placed Arsenal have a comfortable cushion but just five points separate third-placed Newcastle from seventh-paced Aston Villa.

This season, the top five will all qualify for the Champions League after strong performances in Europe from Premier League teams.

Not since 1980, under former manager Brian Clough, have Forest played in the continent’s top club competition.

But after a season spent largely in the upper reaches of the Premier League they are suffering a major wobble at the worst possible moment.

“It’s a bad night and a bad game,” Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo told Sky Sports. “I’m not really worried about the table, more how to correct the mistakes.

“Credit to Brentford but the situations we should solve normally with better defending. We are disappointed but it’s about reacting and going for the next one.”

He added: “There are still four games to go, a lot of football to be played. We have to focus on ourselves and play better football.”

Forest would have climbed to third with a win but despite the defeat they have 60 points, just two behind Newcastle, with Manchester City, Chelsea and Villa also in the mix.

Brentford, themselves chasing a European spot after a fine season, went close to taking the lead in the 17th minute when Sepp van den Berg got his head to a free-kick from the right but he planted his header too close to goalkeeper Matz Sels.

Forest, who have made an art form of exploding on the break, worked their way back into the full-blooded contest.

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: Cameron Smith – Danehouse/Getty Images