Nottingham Forest got off to a winning start in the Premier League, with a dominant first half setting them on course for a 3-1 win against Brentford.
Chris Wood was first to get on the scoresheet after just five minutes of play, before new signing Dan Ndoye popped up for his first ever Premier League goal. The New Zealand striker then scored a third on the stroke of half-time.
It was a dominant opening 45 minutes, and for Brentford, it made it hard to get back into the game. However, they did pick up a consolation through Igor Thiago’s penalty.
It was an all-round performance that even had Evangelos Marinakis applauding one player towards the end. However, Elliot Anderson will also be coming off the pitch delighted with something he did in the match.
Nottingham Forest v Brentford - Premier League
Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images
Elliot Anderson already adding goals and assists to his game
Ahead of the opening game of the Premier League, Elliot Anderson admitted there was one part of his game he believed could be improved.
Anderson has already shown how good he can be for Forest, but at 22 years old, there is definitely room to become even better.
Speaking to The Telegraph before Sunday’s game, Anderson made an admission that he thinks adding more numbers to his game will make him a better player, saying, “My biggest aim this season is to add some numbers [goals and assists] to my performances; that will probably take me to the next level.”
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He is already off to a strong start, picking out Chris Wood with an excellent pass, showcasing a high level of vision. The New Zealand striker then slotted it away, giving Anderson the assist.
Assist aside, Anderson was excellent against Brentford, and the numbers show just how good he was at the City Ground.
Elliot Anderson’s game in numbers vs Brentford
There is no doubt that Elliot Anderson is going to play a key role for Nottingham Forest this season. His performance against Brentford was more than just an assist; it was a tireless effort throughout the full 90 minutes.
Anderson covered more distance than anyone, and almost three-quarters of his coverage was done through running.
Elliot Anderson stats vs Brentford Total
Distance covered 11.3 km (most in match)
Distance ran 8.3 km (73%)
Assists 1
Completed passes 64 (most in match)
The midfielder has certainly got off to a strong start, and with new signings like Dan Ndoye already off the mark, then he’ll be able to provide assists for more than just Chris Wood.
Last season, Anderson got two goals and six assists across 37 Premier League appearances, so his hopes will be to better those numbers this year.
If the opening game against Brentford is anything to go by, he should have no issue in doing so this season.