Nottingham Forest won their Premier League opener 3-1 against Brentford with a number of brilliant performances.
Chris Wood bagged twice, and a debut goal for Dan Ndoye saw Forest three goals to the good at the interval, with the game pretty much over by the interval.
It was a performance that showcased a different side to Forest after the counter-attacking exploits that Nuno Espirito Santo often unleashed last season.
Forest signed Omari Hutchinson and James McAtee on Saturday, and it’s going to be exciting to see what can be achieved this season after this display.
Ola Aina was in fine form in the changing room after the game and reserved extra praise for one player who was simply outstanding.
Nottingham Forest v Brentford - Premier League
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Ola Aina makes Ibrahim Sangare claim after Forest win
Sangare has endured his fair share of criticism since arriving at Forest in the summer of 2023 but in fairness, injuries and illness haven’t helped his case for consistency.
This season does feel like a big one for Sangare and if this performance is anything to go by, the Reds will finally start to see what the Ivorian is all about.
Aina took to Snapchat after the game and picked Sangare as his star player from today’s win, suggesting that he reminded him of Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira in his prime!
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Naturally, that is a bit of a stretch but it’s fair to say that Sangare went a long way towards proving some of his critics wrong and showcasing that he’s capable of becoming a Premier League star.
Ibrahim Sangare stats vs Brentford
Sangare covered every blade of grass against Brentford and had Keith Andrews scratching his head in the dugout over how to combat his commanding physical presence.
The player is clearly trying hard to get himself into games more frequently and the fact that he stayed on for the full 90 minutes against Brentford was also a bonus.
Ibrahim Sangare stats vs Brentford Total
Minutes 90
Distance Covered 10.6km
Clearances 5
Pass Accuracy 83.7%
Passes 43
Forest do need to see more from Sangare, with the player having been out of sorts on some occasions since he checked in at the club.
Now, there is no doubt, however, that he belongs at this level and it’s extremely exciting to think what he might achieve with Forest over the course of this season.