Nottingham Forest produced an irresistible first-half performance as they coasted past Brentford to kick their Premier League campaign off in style.
The Reds raced into a three-goal lead before the break as two goals from Chris Wood and a header from debutant Dan Ndoye sealed all three points.
Wood started the ball rolling after just five minutes when Elliot Anderson's corner was met by the striker and while he didn't make clean contact with his first effort, the second was deadly as he steered past Caoimhin Kelleher.
Brentford, who sold Bryan Mbuemo to Manchester United and with Yoane Wissa heading to Newcastle, offered little in the way of threat but they did come close to an equaliser as Matz Sels denied Yehor Yarmaliuk.
Forest hunted a second goal and it came when Gibbs-White produced an excellent cross for Ndoye to meet with the winger steering his header into the top corner.
And just before half-time, Forest effectively sealed all three points as Anderson struck a contender for a pass of the season as he cushioned a superb first-time ball into the path of Wood to round Kelleher and make it three.
After the break, Ibrahim Sangare took aim from outside the box but cleared the bar as Forest aimed to extend their lead.
Gibbs-White then went close with a shot that just cleared the bar before Sepp Van Den Berg headed over at the other end. Brentford did pull a goal back from the penalty spot when Sangare handled in the box and there was Thiago to score from the spot but Forest coasted to all three points.
Too hot to handle
Nuno was quick to praise an "amazing" first-half performance in his post-match analysis, and it was hard to argue with his assessment of what was a blistering 45 minutes.
Given Forest's dominance, Brentford could feel extremely fortunate that they went into half-time having only conceded three goals.
Their manager, Keith Andrews, blamed some "naivety" for their first-half performance, and while that was partly true, Forest ultimately suffocated them with and without the ball.
In fairness to Brentford, they have lost two big players, Bryan Mbuemo and Christian Norgaard, this summer, and a third, Yoane Wissa, was missing as he closes in on a move to Newcastle.
Ultimately, though, they had no answer to Forest's speed on the transition or the quality with which they pressed.
Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson's relationship was beautifully telepathic, and some of their interchanges were a delight in a partnership that carries such creative potency.
Both players ended this game with assists, but Anderson's was the pick of the bunch with a first-time pass to Chris Wood that, once this season is finished, will go down as one of the best of the campaign.
It was an absolute doozy from which Wood did not have to break stride, and he duly took care of the rest. It was a great way to start the Premier League season, the only disappointment being that Forest could and probably should have scored more. But that is being ultra-picky in a devilishly entertaining victory.
Transfer need is clear
Nuno said afterwards that this victory does not change what Forest needs to do in the window before it shuts at the beginning of September.
James McAtee and Omari Hutchinson were introduced to the fans before this game, and their additions are undoubtedly most welcome, although they will need time to integrate.
But the next priorities should be the full-back positions. Forest will have to balance Europe and a domestic campaign this season, and you need two players for every position.
At full-back, the cupboard looks a little bare, and given that Neco Williams and Ola Aina offer so much going forward and defensively, to lose either for any length of time would be acutely felt, particularly if there is no suitable replacement.
The way Forest play, the full-backs are integral to their attacking structure. But you suspect Forest will have this sorted before the window closes on September 1.
Forest's best business
Forest are not finished in the transfer market, but out of all the business they will do this summer, retaining Morgan Gibbs-White will be their best deal by some distance.
The former Wolves playmaker was irresistible in the first half, during which he pulled so many strings he should have been nicknamed the puppeteer.
There were clever turns, brilliant movement, sharp interplay, and everything he touched was creative. For those of you who played football at school, there was always that kid who was the best on the playground.
That is Gibbs-White in a nutshell. Technically, he is a beautiful player to watch. A master of his craft and the hallmark of an exceptional player is when they make the game look so effortless.
After losing Anthony Elanga to Newcastle, losing Gibbs-White to Spurs would have been a disaster, given that he is this team's creative heartbeat. There are a handful of players in the Premier League who are worth the ticket price, and Gibbs-White is certainly one of them. Elliot Anderson is not far behind him either.
A tale of two penalty shouts
Despite some serious misgivings about VAR, the technology is here to stay, but it remains wildly unpredictable.
In the first half, Forest had more than justifiable claims for a penalty when Elliott Anderson's free-kick struck Antoni Milambo's arm, triggering the alarm back at Stockley Park.
Given that the arm was in an unnatural position, it looked like a nailed-on penalty, but after VAR intervened, play was allowed to continue without any punishment.
Milambo was lucky to avoid conceding a penalty, but the most frustrating aspect of this is how the handball rule is interpreted.
There is just no consistency, and it is incredibly annoying. If Ibrahim Sangare can be punished for his handball, which came when challenging for a header, then the Milambo incident should have had the same outcome.
You can understand why managers, coaches, and supporters are increasingly bemused by it all. Fortunately, it did not cost Forest a result. But we're one game in, and already we're talking about VAR and the rules. It shouldn't have to be like this.
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